Dr. Devi Lal Kikraliya: Senior Research Fellow (SRF) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Alwar-I, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, India
Article Details
The study titled “Partial substitution of herbicides with sorghum allelopathic extract and its impact on productivity of wheat and soil microbes” investigates an integrated weed management approach in wheat cultivation (Triticum aestivum).
It evaluates the use of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) allelopathic extract (rich in sorgoleone) in combination with reduced doses of synthetic herbicides (clodinafop + metsulfuron).
Key measured outcomes include:
- Grain yield of wheat
- Weed suppression efficiency
- Soil bacterial and fungal population dynamics
- Treatment comparisons between different extract concentrations and herbicide combinations
Published in Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 2026, Volume 57, Article 148.
Novelty
The main novelty lies in the partial replacement strategy rather than full substitution of herbicides.
Key innovative elements:
- Integration of a plant-derived allelopathic extract with chemical herbicides in a sequential application system
- Simultaneous evaluation of agronomic performance and soil microbial response
- Use of different sorghum extract concentrations (1:2 and 1:3) under field conditions
The study moves beyond conventional weed control research by combining chemical + biological weed suppression with soil microbiological assessment in a single framework.
Impact
The study shows meaningful agronomic and environmental impact:
- Highest grain yield reached 4543 kg/ha
- Yield improvement of 34.87% over weedy control
- Comparable performance between two optimized treatments (1:2 and 1:3 extract combinations)
- Increased soil microbial populations under sorghum extract treatments
Overall impact:
- Demonstrates that herbicide dose reduction is possible without yield penalty
- Provides evidence supporting integrated weed management systems
- Suggests improvements in soil biological health alongside productivity gains
Originality
The originality is moderate to high based on applied agricultural research standards.
Distinct contributions include:
- Field-level validation of sorghum allelopathic extract in combination with herbicides
- Focus on microbial population shifts (bacteria and fungi) in response to treatments
- Linking allelopathic activity (sorgoleone effect) with both weed suppression and soil biological enhancement
However, the approach builds on established knowledge of allelopathy, so the conceptual novelty is incremental rather than entirely new.
Experimental Rigor
The experimental design appears agronomically sound, with:
- Multiple treatment groups including control and combinations
- Field-based validation rather than laboratory-only study
- Statistical differentiation of treatment effects
- Measurement at different crop growth stages (e.g., 60 DAS and harvest)
Limitations in rigor (based on abstract-level information):
- Likely reliance on culture-based microbial enumeration rather than molecular microbial profiling
- No indication of multi-year or multi-location validation
- Limited mechanistic insight into soil biochemical pathways
Overall rigor: moderate to strong for agronomic field experimentation, but limited depth in advanced microbial ecology methods.
Sustainability Impact
The study has strong sustainability relevance:
- Reduces dependence on full-dose synthetic herbicides
- Enhances soil microbial activity, supporting soil health
- Encourages use of plant-based allelopathic resources
- Potential reduction in chemical residue accumulation in agricultural soils
Sustainability significance:
- Supports transition toward integrated and eco-friendly weed management
- Improves long-term soil productivity potential
- Aligns with sustainable intensification of cereal production systems
Applicability
The findings are practically relevant for wheat-based farming systems:
Potential applications:
- Integrated weed management programs combining bio-extracts and reduced herbicide doses
- Adoption in regions facing herbicide overuse or early resistance issues
- Use in sustainable or low-input farming systems
Constraints:
- Sorghum extract preparation may require additional labor and standardization
- Scaling up bio-extract use may face logistical challenges
- Farmer adoption depends on cost-effectiveness and ease of preparation
Overall applicability: moderate to high, with strongest relevance in research-oriented or progressive farming systems rather than fully mechanized large-scale operations without adaptation.
Research Portfolio
Dr. Deviraj Lal Kikraliya is an agronomy researcher currently serving as Senior Research Fellow at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Navgaon (Alwar-I), Rajasthan. He is dedicated to agricultural innovation with a strong focus on sustainable crop production, weed ecology, and soil health management. He combines academic excellence with practical field experience, particularly in dryland and semi-arid agricultural systems. He is also actively involved in extension activities and farmer-oriented agricultural technologies.
Online Profile
He maintains an active academic and professional presence through peer-reviewed journal publications, research conferences, training programs, and poster presentations at national and international levels. His work is aligned with eco-friendly agriculture, particularly integrated weed management and natural farming systems. He contributes to knowledge dissemination in agronomy through research collaborations, institutional programs, and field demonstrations under KVK systems.
Education
He earned his Ph.D. in Agronomy (2025) from S.K. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, with research on crop geometry and Jeevamrut application in groundnut. He completed his M.Sc. (Agronomy) in 2022 from Agriculture University, Jodhpur, focusing on herbicide and sorghum extract interactions in wheat. His B.Sc. Agriculture (2019) was also completed from S.K. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, where he gained foundational training in crop production, soil science, and agricultural practices. He has consistently maintained strong academic performance throughout his educational journey.
Research Focus
His core research interests include integrated weed management, allelopathic plant extracts, herbicide efficiency, crop geometry optimization, and organic/natural farming approaches. He also focuses on soil fertility enhancement, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity in agricultural soils. His work emphasizes improving crop yield and quality while minimizing chemical inputs and promoting environmentally sustainable farming systems.
Experience
He has extensive hands-on experience in agronomic research, including field trials, crop management, and data recording under different agro-climatic conditions. In laboratory settings, he has worked on nutrient analysis (N, P, K), micronutrient estimation, soil microbial population studies, and quality parameter evaluation of crops like wheat and groundnut. He is also experienced in conducting farmer training, demonstration trials, and extension activities through Krishi Vigyan Kendra programs.
Research Timeline & Activities
His research journey began during his B.Sc. with RAWEP training at KVK Lunkaransar in 2019, where he gained practical exposure to rural agricultural systems. During his M.Sc. (2020–2022), he conducted experimental research on weed management in wheat using herbicides and plant extracts. From 2022 to 2025, his Ph.D. research focused on groundnut production systems involving crop geometry and Jeevamrut application. He has also actively participated in multiple national and international conferences, training programs, and scientific workshops throughout his academic career.
Awards & Honors
He has received several prestigious academic awards including the University Gold Medal in M.Sc. Agronomy, Prof. R.P. Jangir University Gold Medal, and ASRB NET qualification. He was awarded the NET/SLET Fellowship by the Government of Rajasthan and has also been recognized with the Young Researcher Award (2025) and Excellent Research Trial Award (2024). Additionally, he received the AIASA Cabinet Member Award (2017) for academic and leadership contributions.
Strength for a “Best Innovator Award”
1. Innovation in Integrated Weed Management (IWM)
A key strength is the development of novel integrated weed control strategies combining sorghum allelopathic extract with reduced doses of herbicides. This partial substitution approach reduces chemical dependency while maintaining weed suppression efficiency, making it a practical innovation for modern wheat-based systems.
2. Advancement in Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Agriculture
The work strongly supports environmentally sustainable farming systems by reducing herbicide load and enhancing soil biological activity. The integration of plant-based allelopathy aligns with eco-friendly agriculture and long-term soil health improvement goals.
3. Strong Field-Level Validation in Real Farming Conditions
Research conducted through field experiments under wheat cultivation systems provides high practical relevance and reliability. Unlike lab-only studies, the findings demonstrate real-world applicability in agronomic conditions, increasing adoption potential for farmers.
(Institutions involved: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Alwar-I, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner)
4. Soil Health and Microbial Impact Assessment
A distinctive strength is the inclusion of soil microbial dynamics (bacteria and fungi populations) alongside yield and weed control evaluation. This adds a biological sustainability dimension rarely integrated into conventional herbicide studies, strengthening scientific depth.
5. Strong Academic–Extension–Research Integration
The profile reflects a balanced combination of research, farmer training, and extension activities, ensuring that innovations are not only developed but also transferred to field-level practice. This strengthens real-world impact and scalability of technologies developed.