Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

The Department of Soil and Water Management was established at the time of inception of the faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology in 1984. Which was latter bifurcated into two separate departments viz, Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering and Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering during 1992. This department offers teaching to B. Tech. (Agril. Engg.) M. Tech. (Agril. Engg.) Ph. D (Agril. Engg.) programmes

The rainfall in vidarbha varies from 700 to 1300 mm. It is more in eastern Vidarbha than western Vidarbha. The percent irrigated area of vidarbha is 11%, but it is very less in western vidarbha. So the main focus is on research and extension so as to have better water management practices with perspective of more crop per drop. The various water saving techniques like micro-irrigation are demonstrated to farmers. 

Welcome to the Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering. The faculty members in the department are worked in all the activities related to teaching, research and extension as well as guiding student research for B. Tech. (Agril. Engg.), M. Tech. (Agril. Engg.) and Ph. D. (Agril. Engg.) programmes. The faculty in the department is involved in carrying out need based research in the University and also involved in carrying out other University level assignments. The department main thrust is to develop the farmer’s oriented technology for rainwater harvesting and in-situ conservation of soil and water resources to face the changing climatic challenge. The department has bright opportunity to develop AI and ML based technology for mitigating climatic change impacts for achieving sustainable agricultural productivity. Different soil and water conservation structures, rain water harvesting structures  such as farm ponds, cement nala bandh,  on farm soil conservation structures etc were constructed in the university.

Academic Programme:

  1. Tech. (Agricultural Engineering)
  2. Tech. (Agricultural Engineering) in Soil and water Conservation Engineering
  3. Ph. D. (Agril Engg) in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

In changing climate scenario, there is a need to change our research priorities especially under rainfed agriculture for judicious use of available rain water and amelioration of stresses due to biotic and abiotic factors. Conservation natural resources has potential for managing the declining soil productivity besides, managing the climate change. Studies have showed that the threat to water security is very high over central India, along the mountain ranges of the western ghats.

  1. Teaching to U G (B Tech Agri Engg), M Tech (Agril Engg) and Ph D (Agril Engg), Research and Extension.
  2. To undertake, formulate and implementation of site-specific schemes to conserve and manage soil and water resources in the region for minimizing adverse impact of rainfall variation.
  3. Use of remote sensing and GIS technology for conservation, monitoring and improvement of natural resources.
  4. Studies on the hydrological behaviour of the watersheds for developing and monitoring natural resources.
  5. Water conservation literacy and Awareness.

1) Department

  • Third prize in AGROTECH 2019 organized by Dr. PDKV, Akola
  • Third prize in AGROTECH 2022 organized by Dr. PDKV, Akola

2) Faculty

SN Achievement / Award Recipient Year Event / Organizer
1 Best Poster Award Er. V. P. Pandagale (Ph. D. Scholer) 2025 Vasantrao Naik National Memorial Seminar, Dr. PDKV, Akola
2 Gold Medal Award Dr. A. R. Mhaske 2024 Soil Conservation Society of India held at during 18 Oct. 2024, CSAUAT, Kanpur, UP
3 Soil and Water Conservationist Award-2024 Dr. Mital S. Supe 2024 6th International Conference on Cutting Edge Solutions in science Agriculture, Technology, Engineering and Humanities during August 24-26, 2024, Nainital, Uttarakhand
4 Eminent Scientist Award Dr. Mital S. Supe 2024 6th International Conference on Holistic Innovations and Technological Advances for Sustainable Agriculture during 4-6 August, 2024
5 First prize in oral presentation Y. Bisen, A. A. Zodage, K. D. Gharde, P. A. Gawande, A. B. Age 2023 57th Annual Convention of ISAE on Agri-Food Systems Transformation Through Engineering Innovation & International Symposium on Engineering Interventions for Making Millets a Global Food, UAS, Raichur
6 Third prize in poster presentation Yatnesh Bisen, A. A. Zodage, K. D. Gharde, P. A. Gawande, A. R. Mhaske 2023 35th National Convention of Agricultural Engineerin & National Seminar on “ Emerging Technology for Advances in Agriculture & Horticulture”, JNKVV, Jabalpur
7 Best Paper Presentation Award Dr. G. U. Satpute, Er. P. A. Gawande 2020 20th Sinchan Parishad on “Efficient use of water “ and 2nd Cash prize awards of titled late Laxmikant Kokid sinchan lekh purashkar’ by Maharashtra Sinchan Sahayog, at Dr. PDKV, Akola
8 Best Teacher Award (Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rashtriya Puraskar) Dr. K. D. Gharde 2020 International Journal of Scientific Research, Vadodra
9 Best Teacher Award-2020 Dr. K. D. Gharde 2020 Institute of Scholars, Bangalore
10 Best Paper Presentation Award Dr. G. U. Satpute 2019 National Conference on “Agricultural Engineering : 50 years in service of farmers through Agro-Entrepreneurship” at Dr. PDKV Akola 

Infrastructure Facilities

  1. Well-equipped labs for teaching to the UG and PG students of the department.
  2. Implemented different on-farm soil conservation measures, developed water harvesting structures, Gully control structures designed and constructed at University farm.
  3. Model related to different soil and water conservation measures, structures was developed and installed at Agricultural Technology Information Centre, Dr. P. D. K, V, Akola.

Laboratories 

1) Surveying and Levelling Laboratory

It has well developed seating arrangement with all latest equipment for conducting the practical on survey and levelling to B. Tech. (Agril. Engg.) students. This facility also used for conducting M.Tech. and Ph. D. students different subject practical and theory lectures.

2) Soil Mechanics and Hydrology Laboratory

This is well advance laboratory consisting soil mechanics and hydrology equipment to conduct the practical to B Tech (Agril. Engg.) students. This facility also used for conducting M. Tech. and Ph. D. students in the subject of Soil Mechanics, Advance Hydrology, Watershed Hydrology and Reservoir and Farm Ponds design etc.