Brijnandan Prasad Ghildyal earned his DPhil degree (1950) from the University of Allahabad. His specialization was in soil science. He was a Professor and Head, Department of Soil (1968-76), GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar; Dean of Agriculture (1976-79), Professor of Eminence (1979-82), Program Officer, Ford Foundation, New Delhi (1982-86), and Liaison Scientist & Head, International Rice Research Institute, Liaison Office-India (1986-92).

Academic and Research Achievements: Ghildyal has made significant contributions to our understanding of the physical environment of the rice plant, by identifying the critical limits of physical edaphic factors and meterological parameters affecting rice growth and yield. He developed instrumentation, including the data acquisition system, to measure soil and plant water potential, water transfer in rice soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, root and shoot conductivities, soil oxygen diffusion rate, soil strength and thermal characteristics of puddle and flooded soils. He authored a textbook entitled Soil Physics (John Wiley), contributed a chapter, namely, Soil of Himalayas to the book Himalayas (IIC, New Delhi) and was a consulting Editor of twelve journals including Indian Journal of Agricultural Science.

Other Contributions: Ghildyal was a member, Scientific Panels of Planning and Development and Review Committees of ICAR and other Research Councils.

Awards and Honours: Ghildyal received Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Memorial Prize of ICAR (1970-71). He was a Member/Fellow of International Society of Soil Science, American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of India, Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, Indian Society of Agronomy and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi.