The Clay Mineralogy Society of India at Salt Lake held its 24th annual convention and national conference held on September 22-23.
The chief guest Sanjoy Kumar, vice-chancellor, Amity University, urged to utilise soil clay technology not only for crop productivity, soil fertility and health improvement but also for the industry particularly in oil-drilling areas.
SK Sanyal, former vice-chancellor of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya emphasised on the need of clay
science research and to stop misuse of clay at the brick-making industry. He stressed upon utilising knowledge of clay from the local to global level.
At the inaugural session, Kumar highlighted that because of low monsoon rain in India this year, rice has been sowed in about 5% less area which may yield reduction to the tune of 10-12 mt this year. So, for adaptation and mitigation of GHGs, the importance of soil clays research is the need of the hour.
The conference also discussed the role of soil clays to reduce global warming.
The seminar discussed techniques and technologies on how soil and soil clays could be used to increase carbon
sequestration and other fields of environment and industry.
The conference also deliberated on issues of adjudgement of the ‘‘4 per 1000’’ Initiative, a multistakeholder platform aiming at increasing SOC storage through sustainable practices.
There were discussions on alternate pathways to control misuse of soil and soil clays, to check clay loss through soil erosions and the brick industry. The major concern of changes in soil quality for crop productivity decline were also addressed. More than a hundred scientists participated in the conference.