Research Projects

Nitrogen is a crucial input in modern agriculture, and groundwater nitrate pollution is a global issue. The Lower Ganga Delta (LGD) in West Bengal, particularly after the green revolution, has increased the use of high-yielding varieties (HYV) and nitrogen-containing fertilizers, leading to soil and groundwater pollution. Factors such as shallow groundwater tables, high soil permeability, sufficient precipitation, and groundwater overexploitation make alluvial aquifers more susceptible to nitrate pollution. This project aims to identify the variable nature of nitrate pollution in the soil and groundwater in the shallow water table region of the LGD under different agricultural practices. Primary and secondary data will be collected, with 960 groundwater samples from different sources and 600 soil samples collected at the sowing and harvesting times of both kharif (monsoon) and rabi (winter) crops. Data essential for assessing human health risk will be collected from 1000 rural households under 94 community development blocks of four districts using a simple random sampling method. The study will apply a human health risk assessment model for hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment through drinking and dermal pathways, and risk characterization. This work will detect potential risks to human health, including birth defects and cancers due to nitrate pollution of groundwater. Geospatial modelling using tools like HYDRUS-1D and MT3DMS and MODFLOW can help better manage groundwater resources and estimate the optimal use of nitrogen fertilizer for sustainable development.