The priorities of the institute are to broaden the soil science research by encouraging multidisciplinary research for efficient utilization of already created infrastructure and, therefore, carry out research work rigorously in the following critical areas:

Programme 1: Soil Health and Input Use Efficiency

• Integrated nutrient management: Indigenous mineral and by-product sources
• Nano-technology
• Precision agriculture
• Crop simulation modeling and remote sensing
• Fertilizer fortification
• Resilience of degraded soils
• Developing a workable index of soil quality assessment imbibing influence of different physical, chemical and biological soil attributes

Programme 2 : Conservation Agriculture and Carbon Sequestration vis-à-vis Climate Change

• Organic farming and produce quality
• Efficient and improved composting techniques
• The carbon sequestration research in the context of sustainable management of land and soil resources and conserving deteriorating environment
• Conservation agriculture and carbon sequestration
• Tillage and nutrient interactions
• Crop adaptation to climate change and rhizospheric study

Programme 3: Microbial Diversity and Genomics

• Characterization and prospecting of large soil biodiversity
• Characterization of functional communities of soil organisms
• Testing of mixed biofertilizer formulations
• Quality compost production and quality standards

Programme 4: Soil Pollution, Remediation and Environmental Security

• Bio-remediation/ phytoremediation of contaminated soils
• Waste waters – quality assessment and recycling