Main activities and priority research areas of the institute
The main task of the institute is to conduct research aimed at solving the most important problems in soil science and agrochemistry and improving their scientific and practical foundations; to develop scientific solutions for preserving and increasing soil fertility and for the rational use and protection of land; to determine the quality rating of soils used in agriculture; and to study the agrochemical, ecological and reclamation condition of soils.
The core of the institute’s work is: carrying out fundamental, applied and innovative research projects within approved State scientific and technical programmes on the efficient use of land resources, developing the scientific basis for managing soil fertility and improving the reclamation condition of soils, as well as modern technologies to prevent the degradation of irrigated, rain-fed and pasture lands under climate change; assessing soil quality; monitoring the condition of soils on agricultural land; studying the agrochemical state of soils; conducting research to prevent salinization, contamination with various toxicants, degradation and desertification; and introducing into production new innovative, resource-saving methods and technologies for preserving, restoring and increasing soil fertility and improving its ecological and reclamation condition.
Main research areas of the institute
In 2020 the Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry employed a total of 113 people, including 56 researchers. 35 staff members held academic degrees, of whom 9 were Doctors of Science and 26 were Candidates of Science and Doctors of Philosophy. The scientific potential stood at 62.5%.
During 2020 the Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry carried out research in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Tashkent, Kashkadarya, Bukhara and Syrdarya regions under 3 fundamental and 9 applied projects approved and funded by the Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Brief overview of activities in 2020–2022
The Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry employs a total of 143 people, including 86 researchers: 1 academician, 13 Doctors of Science, 30 Candidates of Science and Doctors of Philosophy, and 42 researchers without an academic degree. 61 of the researchers are young scientists under 45. The scientific potential of the institute is 51%. The average age of the staff is 45.
23 people (3 doctoral students and 20 basic doctoral students) are studying in the institute’s doctoral and basic doctoral programmes.
In 2021–2022, 12 projects on increasing soil fertility with a total value of 9,597.7 million soums were funded (9 applied, 1 applied project for young scientists, 1 experimental design project and 1 innovative project).
The research laboratory of the institute’s Analysis Centre was accredited to the ISO 17025 standard by the Uzstandard Agency.
On 10 June 2022 the President adopted the resolution “On measures to create an effective system for combating land degradation”. Under item 5 of this resolution, the Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the National Centre for Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture was renamed the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemical Research and transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.