Useful Links


Dr. Waqar Ahmad

Associate Professor

Environmental Geosciences

Phone: +92 3330303388,
              +61 469052302

Email:

a.waqar@uop.edu.pk,
agdevelopment.specialist@gmail.com

QUALIFICATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dr Waqar holds a doctoral degree from Australia, diploma and certificates in Leadership and Management, Training Design and Development, Community Services, Community Development, and Training and Assessment. He has expertise in environmental and soil chemistry, with interest in: carbon accounting and management for constrained ecologies, soil-linked human security, digital agriculture, and teaching in these domains for creating future leaders. He is the recipient of Endeavour Award 2015 - CSIRO, at Perth Western Australia. Dr Waqar has been coordinating for RD&E organizations since 2003. He led two projects on "4R Nutrient Stewardship" funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and USDA-Foreign Agricultural Services in Pakistan. He developed Soil Fertility Atlases for four provinces of Pakistan. The Atlases provide a comprehensive account of soil fertility status, classification, dominant soil series, parent material, native best management practices, fertilizer use trends and respective yields at farm-gate, with a management strategy for resource-based improvement. Dr Waqar has extensive experience of conducting objective-oriented workshops/seminars and holding policy dialogues and designing training modules for multiple stakeholders. He has been a focal person of FAO-UN Asian Soil Partnership since 2017. Currently, Dr Waqar is affiliated as a Fellow with the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences (SAFS), at The University of Queensland,Australia. Also, he has been a Fellow/Casual Academics at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES),The University of Sydney, Australia.

 

REVIEWING ACTIVITIES AND SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Environmental Science and Technology – the American Chemical Society
  • Plant and Soil – Publisher Springer
  • Geoderma – Publisher Elsevier
  • Sustainability – MDPI
  • Atmosphere – MDPI (Topic-board)
  • European Journal of Soil Biology – Publisher Springer
  • Clean, Soil, Air, Water – Publisher Wiley
  • CATENA – Publisher Elsevier
  • Pedosphere – Publisher Elsevier
  • Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science – Cooperating Journal of IUSS
  • Agronomy Journal – American Society of Agronomy
  • Member of Review Committee of Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
  • Scientific Reports – Publisher Nature
  • Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis – Publisher Taylor and Francis
  • Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture – Wiley

 

PUBLICATIONS (SELECTED)

SCHOLARLY BOOK CHAPTERS/GUIDELINES/STATUS REPORTS

  • Waqar Ahmad, M.H. Zia, Khalid Mahmood (2021). Conservation tillage to tackle smog issue and improve carbon sequestration in rice-wheat cropping system, Pakistan. In FAO and ITPS (Eds.) Recarbonizing global soils: A technical manual of best management practices, Volume 6. Forestry, Wetlands, and Urban Soils.  – Case-studies. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. http://www.fao.org/3/cb6605en/cb6605en.pdf
  • Watto, M.A., T. Aziz, A. Wakeel, Waqar Ahmad, M.H. Zia, A.J. Marwat (2021). Pathways to sustainable nitrogen use and management in Pakistan. Chapter 7, In: Nitrogen assessment: Pakistan as a case-study. Aziz et al., (eds). Academic Press, Elsevier, New York. pp 225.
  • NFDC (National Fertilizer Development Centre). (2020). Fertilizer Management for Sustainable Agricultural Intensification: Pakistan Case. N. Ahmad, Waqar Ahmad, and M.H. Zia. ISBN 978-969-8066-97-0. Islamabad, Pakistan, p 40.
  • NFDC (National Fertilizer Development Centre). (2020). Communicating 4R Nutrient Stewardship for Sustainable Agricultural Growth and Crop Intensification. M.R. Broadley, Waqar Ahmad, and M.H. Zia. ISBN 978-969-8066-95-6. Islamabad, Pakistan, p 45.
  • Ahmad, W., Ullah, Najeeb, and M.H. Zia. (2014). Soil contamination with metals: Sources, types and implications. 2014. Chapter 2, In: Phytoremediation of Metal Contaminated Soils: Prospects and Challenges, K.R. Hakeem, M. Sabir and M. Ozturk (eds). Academic Press, Elsevier, New York. pp. 37-61. 
  • Ahmad, W., M.H. Zia, S.S. Malhi, A. Niaz and Saifullah. (2012). Boron deficiency in soils and crops. A review. In: Crop Plant, Dr Aakash Goyal (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51-0527-5, In Tech, Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/crop-plant/boron-deficiency-in-soils-and-crops-a-review

 

REFERRED JOURNAL ARTICLES

  • M. Sabir, Z. Naseem, Waqar Ahmad, K.R. Hakeem, M. Usman, F. Nadeem, M.Z. Rehman, H.R.  Ahmad (2021). Exogenously applied ascorbic acid alleviates adverse effects of nickel on wheat growth and regulates assimilation of trace elements. International Journal of Phytoremediation n https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2021.1962801
  • Ahmad, W., F.A. Dijkstra, R.C. Dalal and B. Singh. (2020). Plant roots are more important than temperature in modulating carbon release in a limed acidic soil. European Journal of Soil Science. 71(4):727-739
  • Hussain, I., A.M., Muscolo, M. Farooq and Waqar Ahmad. (2019). Sustainable use and management of non-conventional water resources for rehabilitation of marginal lands in arid and semiarid environments. Agricultural Water Management. 221:462-476.
  • Saiqa Jabeen, S. Alam, M. Saleem, Waqar Ahmad, F. S. Hamid and H. U. Shah. (2019). Withering timings affect the total free amino acids and mineral contents of tea leaves during black tea manufacturing. Arabian Journal of Chemistry.  12(8): 2411-2417
  • Ahmad, M., S. Alam, Waqar Ahmad, I. Jan, and A. Zia. (2018). Application of the 4R nutrient stewardship concept for growing off-season tomatoes in high tunnels. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 18(4): 989-1001.
  • Joy, E.J.M., Waqar Ahmad, M. H. Zia, D. B. Kumssa, S. D. Young, E. L. Ander, M.J. Watts. A.J. Stein, M.R. Broadley. (2017). Valuing increased zinc (Zn) fertilizer use in Pakistan. Plant and Soil. 139–150
  • Ullah, Najeeb, Waqar Ahmad, M.H. Zia, M. Zaffar and W. Zhoua. (2017). Enhancing the lead phytostabilization in wetland plant Juncus effusus L. through somaclonal manipulation and EDTA enrichment. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. 10(2): S3310-S3317.
  • Ahmad, W., F.A. Dijkstra, R.C. Dalal and B. Singh. (2016). Soil warming and liming impacts on the recovery of 15N in an acidic soil under soybean cropping. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. 179 (2): 193-197.
  • Ahmad, W., B. Singh, R.C. Dalal and F.A. Dijkstra.  (2015). Carbon dynamics from carbonate dissolution in Australian agricultural soils. Soil Research. 2015, 53(2): 144-153.
  • Hassan Uslu, D. Yankov, K.L. Wasewar, S. Azizian, N. Ullah and Waqar Ahmad. (2015). Separation of organic and inorganic compounds for specific applications. Journal of Chemistry.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ 2015/698259
  • Ahmad, W., B. Singh, F.A. Dijkstra, R.C. Dalal and Peter Geelan-Small. (2014). Temperature sensitivity and carbon release in an acidic soil amended with lime and mulch. Geoderma. 214–215: 168–176.
  • Ahmad, W., B. Singh, F.A. Dijkstra and R. C. Dalal. (2013). Dynamics of inorganic and organic carbon in a limed acid soil are mediated by plants. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 57: 549-555.
  • Ali, M.K., Waqar Ahmad, S.S. Malhi, B.M. Atta, M.H. Zia and A. Ghafoor. (2013). Potential of carbon dioxide biosequestration of saline-sodic soils during amelioration under rice-wheat land use. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis.  44:2625–2635.
  • Niaz, A., Waqar Ahmad, M.H. Zia and A.M. Ranjha. (2013). Relationship of soil extractable and fertilizer boron to some soil properties, crops yields and total boron in cotton and wheat plants on selected soils of Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Plant Nutrition 36:343-356.
  • Ahmad, W., M.J. Watts, M. Imtiaz, I. Ahmed and M.H. Zia. (2012). Zinc deficiency in soils, crops and humans. A review. 2012. Agrochimica. LVI-N.2 65-97.
  • Ahmad, W., Z. Mustafa, W. Ahmad and T. I.  Ahmad. (2012). Determinants influencing employee satisfaction: A case of Government and Project type organization. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences.10:1, 42-47. 
  • Niaz, A., Waqar Ahmad, M.H. Zia and A.M. Ranjha. (2011). Relative efficiency of different extractants for available boron estimation in alkaline calcareous soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 42:16, 1934-1944.
  • Ahmad, W., M. Fiaz, M. Ahmad, K. H. Gill and F. Fareed. (2009). Impact of social mobilization efforts on community development for rehabilitation of salt affected and waterlogged lands in tehsil Sahiwal, district Sargodha. 2009. Journal of Agricultural Research. 47:1, 73-78.
  • Ahmad, W., A. Niaz, S. Kanwal, Rahmatullah and M.K. Rasheed. (2009). Role of boron in the plant growth: A review. Journal of Agricultural Research.  47:3,329-338.
  • Ahmad, W., Rahmatullah, M.A., Gill and T. Aziz (2006) Bioavailability of inorganic phosphorus fractions in calcareous soils estimated by neubauer technique, iron‐impregnated filter paper, and chemical tests. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 37(9-10): 1185-1193, DOI: 10.1080/00103620600623426
  • Niaz, A., M., Ibrahim, M.Y., Nadeem, A., Sameen, Waqar Ahmad, F.M.Z., Akhtar. (2004). Nitrate leaching losses under different irrigation frequencies and uptake in cereal foods. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 41 (3/4), 95-110.
  • Niaz, A., M. lbrahim, M. Y., Nadeem, A., Sameen and Waqar Ahmad. (2004). Effect of irrigation frequency on soil water content and solute movement under maize crop in calcareous soils. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 41(1-2): 275-280.

 

OTHER RESEARCH OUTPUTS

  • Guest Editor: "Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management" A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). – Impact Factor ~ 2.57 (2021)
  • Co-Editor: Special Issue of Frontiers in Plant Science “Adaptation of Plants to Waterlogging and Hypoxia” – Impact Factor ~ 5.75 (2021)
  • Co-Editor: Special Issue of Atmosphere "Global Climate Change and Food Security: Recent Trends, Current Progress and Future Directions"– Impact Factor ~ 2.39 (2021)
  • Co-Editor: Genotype X Environmental X Management (GxExM) – Moving Beyond Wheat (Frontiers in Agronomy, 2021)
  • Co-Editor: Global Food and Nutrition Security under Changing Climates (Frontiers in Agronomy, 2021)

 

ATLASES

  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) of the United Nations. (2017a). Soil Fertility Atlas of Pakistan: The Punjab Province. Waqar Ahmad, Y. Niino, M.H. Zia, K. Mahmood, A. Ashraf, N. Ahmad, M. Salim and M.A. Shakir (Eds.), ISBN 978-969-8304-08-9. Islamabad, Pakistan, p 115. https://www.ffc.com.pk/marketing-group/kashtkar-desk/soil-fertility-atlas-of-pakistan-punjab/
  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) of the United Nations. (2017b). Soil Fertility Atlas of Pakistan: The Sindh Province. Waqar Ahmad, Y. Niino, M.H. Zia, K. Mahmood, A. Ashraf, K.S. Memon, Z.H. Shah, M. Aslam, N. Ahmad, M. Salim and M.A. Shakir (Eds.), ISBN 978-969-8304-09-6. Islamabad, Pakistan, p 105. https://www.ffc.com.pk/marketing-group/kashtkar-desk/soil-fertility-atlas-of-pakistan-sindh/
  • NFDC (National Fertilizer Development Centre) (2019a). Soil Fertility and Inputs Use Atlas of Pakistan: The Balochistan Province. Waqar Ahmad et al. ISBN 0978-969-78888-01-6. Islamabad, Pakistan, p 120.
  • NFDC (National Fertilizer Development Centre) (2019b). Soil Fertility and Inputs Use Atlas of Pakistan: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Waqar Ahmad et al. ISBN 0978-969-78888-00-9. Islamabad, Pakistan, p 115.

 

IN PRESS/ SUBMITTED

  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) of the United Nations. (2021). The Multi-Faced Role of Soil in Asia – Policy Brief. L. Caon, M.H Zia and Waqar Ahmad. Rome.  
  • Munir H. Zia, Waqar Ahmad, M. Broadley, and M. Watts. (2021). Commentary on cadmium and micronutrients simultaneous uptake by zinc -biofortified wheat. Environmental Geochemistry and Health.
  • Waqar Ahmad, Z. Mustafa, M. Sabir, T.I Ahmad, S. Razzaq, Saifullah, and S. Siddique. (2021). Interpretation of adult learning principles in the context of Techno-Vid: Lessons from a pandemic and hereafter. Educational Research Review
  • Z. Mustafa, Waqar Ahmad, M. Sabir, T.I Ahmad, S. Siddique, N. Ullah, and S. Razzaq (2021). How innovation can socially transform society from incomplete agenda of green revolution: Case of a developing country. Submitted to the journal, Sustainability, Publisher Elsevier.

 

WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES ORGANIZED – CONFERENCE PRODUCER

  • >50 
  • Symposium (International)
  • Workshop (International)
  • Policy Dialogues (National Scale)
  • Commodity-specific Workshops (Provincial Scale)
  • Consultative Meetings (National and Provincial Scale)