Agricultural chemistry is the study of both chemistry and biochemistry which are important in agricultural production, the processing of raw products into foods and beverages, and environmental monitoring and remediation. Agricultural chemistry today must carry out further practical and theoretical work in root nutrition in order to raise the coefficient of fertilizer consumption, develop methods to increase plant utilization of the soil’s nutrient elements, and develop new and better fertilizers. Scientific research in agricultural chemistry is being conducted at the central research institutes, at numerous zonal institutes and experimental stations, and in agricultural institutes and university biological and soil subdepartments, where personnel for this field are trained. Agricultural Chemistry, the study of the chemical relations of the substances concerned in agricultural production. The whole natural science of vegetable and animal production is usually called agricultural chemistry, although it includes much of physics, meteorology, vegetable and animal physiology, and geology. It is impossible to separate these subjects, without grave errors; and hence those works which give the justest view of the chemistry of agriculture are not strictly treatises on agricultural chemistry. The main aim of writing this book is to facilitate the advancing students in the field of soils, plants, irrigation, water and fertilizers etc. It has been compiled for the practicing chemists in research laboratories and students. This book is intended as a basis in agricultural chemistry for students in agriculture and other examinations of similar types and standard.

Dr. Deb Prasad Ray is presently working as Senior Scientist (Organic Chemistry) at ICARNational Institute of Jute and Allied Fibre Technology (ICAR), Kolkata. Dr. Ray was born in 1973, graduated in agriculture from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal (1996) and obtained M.Sc. (1999) and Ph.D. degrees (2003) from the prestigious Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He is recipient of SLC gold Medal in Ph.D. programme. He received Young Scientist Award from RKM Foundation in 2013. His work on synthesis and chemistry of coupling agents for application in jute biocomposites has been recognized by the Royal Society of Chemistry, London in 2014 through an award. He has been awarded as the Fellow of Society for Plant Protection Sciences (FSPPS). Very recently he has been awarded with Bharat Seva Ratan Gold medal Award for outstanding Individual Achievement in Science by Global Economic Progress & Research Association. Dr Ray has published more than 80 research papers in journals of national and international repute, 5 Books, 15 review articles, 15 book chapters and more than 40 popular articles. He is the founder Secretary of the Indian Natural Fibre Society. He is also founder of Indian Journal of Natural Fibres and EditorinChief of two journals, International Journal of Bioresource Science and Krishi Samachar. Being the life member of Society for Plant Protection, Society for Pesticide Science and Indian Science Congress (ISCA), he has delivered several addresses in national and international fora.