About the Department

The department of Microbiology was established in 1964 in the erstwhile Punjab Agricultural University under the supervision of Dr. S.R. Vyas as the founder Professor & Head, who laid solid foundation for the subsequent growth and development of the department. With the establishment of CCSHAU in 1970, the department of Microbiology became a part of the College of Basic Sciences & Humanities. Over the years, the department has made significant contribution in research, teaching and extension.  The department developed a solid state fermentation process for the production of citric acid from cane molasses using improved strains of Aspergillus niger.  Technology for the production of wine from locally grown grapes was developed by Professor S.R. Vyas and the technical know-how for the large scale production of wine was later transferred to Panipat Cooperative Distillery, Panipat.  Subsequently, a process for the direct fermentation of sugarcane molasses for alcohol production was also developed.  Yeast strain, HAU-I has been developed for the production of ethanol and is being supplied to various Indian distilleries on demand. Usefulness of organic manures in maintaining soil organic matter status and their role in pollution abatement has been worked out. Technology for enrichment of compost with (i) Azotobacter for increased nitrogen content, (ii) rock phosphate for increased phosphate availability and (iii) urea for increased organic nitrogen content has been developed.  Use of neem cake in controlling nitrification and slow release of nitrogen from nitrogenous fertilizers has been worked out. Since the late sixties, the department has been in the forefront in carrying basic and applied research towards producing efficient rhizobial strains for chickpea, mungbean, urdbean, cowpea, berseem, soybean and other legumes and Azotobacter for non-leguminous crops.  The department was awarded National Productivity Council Award for 1985-86. Biofertilizers of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and biocontrol inoculants of Gluconacetobacter are also being produced by the department. Since July 2018, various biofertilizers are being produced through PPP mode with Habitat Genome Primary Producers Company, village Ramayan, Hisar. Microbial parameters for anaerobic digestion of organic wastes for biogas production have been studied and conditions for increasing biogas production in winter through recycling of spent slurry and effective use of brackish water for biogas production have been worked out. Family size Janta biogas plant has been modified for solid state fermentation of cattle dung that has been tested all over India and has been found satisfactory. During last five years on an average eight students were admitted in M.Sc. and in Ph.D. Presently there are 23 M.Sc. students and 38 Ph.D. students on roll. 

There is no UG programme going on in the department, however, department is offering two core UG Courses and one professional course to Undergraduates of College of Agriculture and one UG Course to Undergraduate students of I.C. College of Home Science.

Objectives of the Department

• To provide quality education to students and develop skilled manpower in the field of Microbiology
• To develop professionals in Microbiology
• To conduct research in thrust areas related to Agriculture, Industry , Environment and Molecular Microbiology

Last Updated :-Wed, Jul 05 2023