Page 7 - Alcorn Magazine - Spring, 2019

Leading The Way
DR. GIRISH PANIKER IS DEVOTED TO ENHANCING THE HEALTH VALUE OF FOOD
One of Alcorn State University’s most consistent researchers believes his passion for advanced composting technology will one day help save the world’s food supply.
Dr. Girish Panicker, director of conservation research in the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, delivered a lecture titled “Slow-Release and Environmentally Friendly Compost Production with Magnesium and Poultry Manure” at the 73rd Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) International Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Alcorn developed the technology in collaboration with Dr. Charles Weiss, Dr. David Ringelberg, and Dr. Phillip Malone, who are scientists for the U.S. Army. e research was conducted on the basis of the Cooperative Research and Development (CRADA) Agreement between Alcorn and the Department of Army.
e new technology promotes the bacterial production of low- solubility ammonium magnesium phosphate (struvite) in an alternative organic composting process. is struvite-based composting system reduces the ammonia air pollution problem and will also prevent groundwater pollution. is struvite- enriched compost is a new type of organic fertilizer that will be a storable, marketable, enhanced product that any animal farm can economically produce and sell.
Panicker described why delving deep into this issue is imperative to the betterment of the environment.
“Groundwater pollution and climate change are some of the major problems the world faces today,” said Panicker. “Groundwater and surface water supplies are threatened with contamination. One of the most serious sources of nonpoint pollution is animal waste. e Army has made recent advances in the development of new composting procedures that allow composting problems to be overcome.”
Panicker said that conducting the research is “one of the greatest achievements in my professional life.”
His research paper was accepted for publication in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, a publication of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
Panicker then took his knowledge and ndings to the American Society for Horticultural Science’s 114th annual International Conference, where he presented on the topic “Fruit Quality,
Adaptability, Yield, and Biomass Production of Organically Grown Indigenous and Exotic Melons on a Heavy Soil.”
e presentation was an outgrowth of a $498,561 grant received from the United States Department of Agriculture for his work “Mining the Melon Gene Pool to Breed Novel Morphotypes for Dissemination into Small Farms through a Participatory Selection Approach.”
is multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research on 103 varieties of melons worldwide was successfully carried out in collaboration with scientists from Alcorn State University, West Virginia State University, and Cornell University. Panicker served as principal investigator.
He re ected fondly on his experience in Hawaii. He cites his favorite part of the trip as the opportunity to apply his wide knowledge base to a new landscape.
“Although I’ve traveled to more than 20 countries, this was my rst time in Hawaii, and I was struck by the beauty of it,” he said. “ ey have a large variety of ornamental plants, as well as tropical fruit, both cultivated and wild, which interested me. e landscape and the rainforest reminded me of my home in southern India. e island has all kinds of tropical crops and a land-grant university, the University of Hawaii.”
Panicker also highlighted the importance of his research at the Center for Conservation Research. He stated, “ e ultimate aim of all research programs of the Center is to keep the soil and the human healthy.” In line with this aim, the Center has helped to bring Mississippi from its notorious status as the unhealthiest state in the United States to number two on that list.
“Fruits and nuts are the two major food items in the world that humans can consume without cooking,” Panicker said. “ ey provide antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and ber, which are required for a healthy diet. ese items are expensive in the market, and average people can’t a ord them. Our research programs have helped to train hundreds of people, including our students, on organic production and to educate them about their bene cial e ects on human health.”
After an analysis of the quality and adaptability of the melons, seeds of best varieties are distributed free to the public. More than 1,500 people have taken advantage of this service.
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PURPLE & GOLD