Soil Science Research :

Soil Testing and Crop Response (STCR) programme is being adopted in selected blocks of Gangetic alluvial and Red and Lateritic Zone. The activities included, development of soil testing protocol for organic farming, development of new extractants for accurate soil testing and establishing Farmers' Service Centre for soil testing and fertilizer recommendation-referral laboratory. Development of Soil maps for major and micronutrients, preparation of soil health card, management of acid soil etc. are the focus areas under the domain of Soil Science Research

Crop management :

Crop management is another major area of research in which the university is actively working for development of improved package of practices for popular crops and cropping system of different agroclimatic zones with focus on Agril Water management with pressurized irrigation, deficit irrigation, soil moisture conservation effective utilization, drip irrigation, organic farming, crop stress management, wetland agriculture etc. The university has 30 ongoing number of AICRP projects running with national mandates governed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research of which five have been added (MULLaRP, Chickpea, Maize, NSP (Crops), Weed Management) to the list in 2016-17.

Crop Improvement :

Identification of potential cultivars and release of new varieties of leading crops suitable for different agroclimatic zones and land situations has been one of the major focus areas of university research programmes. During last five years few varieties have released for different tuber crops, jute, rice, cashew nut etc. Apart from released varieties several potential cultivars of field crops like, jute, potato and other tuber crops, pulses and vegetables like, brinjal chilly, tomato, okra and flowers like, tube rose, chrysanthemum etc. have been screened for suitability to combat biotic and abiotic stresses and higher production under different growing conditions. The collaboration with International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is operational for grasspea and lentil improvement and adaptation by farming community of stress regions of Coastal saline and Red-Lateritic Zone. International Academic and Research Collaboration has also been done with John Inns centre (JIC), National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), UK funded by British Biotechnology Biological Science Council (BBSRC) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India for improving yield potential and quality of grasspea. The university has developed an ICAR approved centre with CTCRI, ICAR having DNA finger printing facilities.

Crop Protection :

University has also focused its research in the area of crop protection with an operational Plant Clinic, Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory for detection of viruses, Disease/pest forewarning system and e-pest surveillance. The activities include, forewarning system for the occurrence of aphid (Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii), plant protection protocols, district-wise distribution map of phytonematodes infecting major crops in West Bengal and control measures against nematode incidence for major field crops etc. Twenty-two gene sequences of rDNA (ITS-I and ITS-II) of Meloidogyne species have been submitted to NCBI-database.

Crop Management in Coastal Saline Zone :

The university has operational research unit for agricultural development in environmentally sensitive coastal agro-ecosystem. Diversification of existing Cropping System and Farming Systems and On-farm evaluation of farming system modules are being conducted for improving profitability and livelihood of small and marginal farmers of problematic Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal. The collaborative research has been initiated with Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO, Australia), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (ICAR) Canning Centre aimed at cropping system intensification, water conservation technology in respect of salinity dynamics and polder level water balance of Sundarban. The university has also established collaboration with the International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) for wide scale adaptation of drought and salt tolerant perspective cultivars of grass pea and lentil in the Coastal Saline Zone.

Micro-level Farm mechanization :

Considering the demand from small farm holdings of the state the university has concentrated its research programme on Micro-level Farm mechanization. The scientists have customized and successfully tested Two-row semi mounted potato planter and potato diggers for the potato growing districts of Hooghly and Burdwan. Field performance report has led to the inclusion of these machinery in Governments subsidy scheme for Implement Hubs and Custom Hiring Centres. Light weight implements and hand tools like power reaper, cono-weeder etc. are being modified ergonomically to suit women agricultural workers of the state