Krishna, K(owligi) R. 1954–

PERSONAL: Born September 22, 1954, in Chithoor, Andra Pradesh, India; son of K. (deceased) and K. R. (Ranganayakarma) Ramachar; married K. Uma Devi (a physician), November 22, 1982; children: Sharath Kowligi Ethnicity: "Brahmin." Education: University of Agricultural Sciences (Bangalore, India), B.Sc., 1975, Ph.D., 1981; G. B. Pant University of Agricultural Technology, M.Sc., 1978. Religion: Hindu.

ADDRESSES: Home—211/7, 9th Cross, J. P. Nagar, Bangalore 560 078, India. E-mail—krkrish007@rediffmail.com.

CAREER: Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessarghatta, Bangalore, senior technical assistant, 1977–78; International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, India, scientist in cereals, 1981–88, scientist in microbiology and cell biology, 1988–89, scientist in crop physiology and agronomy, 1989–92; University of Florida, Gainesville, visiting professor and research scholar in soil and water sciences, 1994–96.

MEMBER: Indian Society of Soil Science, Indian Society of Agronomy.

AWARDS, HONORS: Gold Medal, University of Agricultural Sciences (Bangalore, India), 1983; Young Scientist Medal for agriculture, Indian National Science Academy, 1985.

WRITINGS:

(Editor, with G. Hunsigi) The Science of Field Crop Production, Oxford University Press (New Delhi, India), 1998.

(Editor) Soil Fertility and Crop Production, Science Publisher (Enfield, NH), 2002.

(Editor) Agrosphere: Nutrient Dynamics, Ecology, and Productivity, Science Publishers (Enfield, NH), 2003.

Contributor to books, including Accomplishments and Future Challenges in Dryland Soil Fertility Research in the Mediterranean Area, edited by J. Ryan, [Syria], 1997. Contributor to scientific journals, including Peanut Science.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Research on agro-ecosystems of southern India and on nutrient dynamics and ecology.

SIDELIGHTS: K. R. Krishna told CA: "I am an agricultural scientist by profession. Writing books makes me more knowledgeable and also more well known in the realm of international agriculture. It allows me to express some of my thoughts. The books help others with neatly summarized versions of the current status of global agriculture. They also help me to impress upon readers the intricacies and greatness of the agriculture and agro-ecosystems that we have nurtured.

"I select topics in which I have excelled or am confident; if not, I have requested suitable friends or colleagues to write up a portion or chapter. Compulsorily, every day, I write one or two official letters to professors, scientists, colleagues, and friends in international agricultural circles, requesting progress reports or papers and new information. Most of them have been helpful to me. This process keeps me abreast of the current status of international agriculture. Information on Web sites is usually secondary (or prioritized less) in my efforts. Perhaps this situation will change in the future, as the authenticity and usefulness of Web pages improve."