As a part of study tour, 71 students of B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture IV year, from Medi-Caps University, Indore visited ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur on 29th March, 2022. The students, accompanied by two teachers (Dr. Kundan Singh, Dr. Aaradhana Patel), reported at 10:15 am at the Directorate. They were guided by Er. Chethan CR and Dr. Deepak Pawar.

The students were shown the conservation agriculture trials, engineering workshop, organic farming fields, composting unit, FACE facility, OTC chambers, containment facility, lysimeter unit and aquatic weed tanks. For being from B.Sc., Agriculture discipline, the students were fascinated to visit biotechnology laboratory where they were briefed about various instruments like PCR machine, spectrophotometer, gel documentation system, IRGA photosynthesis system, laminar air flow, etc., their principles and applications. The students also visited the ‘Information Centre’ of the Directorate, where they were acquainted by Dr. P. K. Singh, Pr. Scientist about the major areas of research undertaken at Directorate, its history, and weed management practices including different cultural, mechanical, chemical and biological methods. They were detailed about the phytoremediation unit’s working principle and how different weeds can effectively be utilized for treatment of polluted water. An exposure about important weeds of field crops was given to the students.

The students were briefed about the importance of conservation agriculture and its role in minimizing residue burning and emission of greenhouse gases like CH4 and N2O from crop fields. They were also taken to the composting unit and were explained about its working and advantages. The entire visit was interactive with many queries from the students and the students expressed their satisfaction as this helped them in expanding their knowledge about weeds, their management practices, conservation agriculture, climate resilient agriculture, instrumentations, etc.