Crop Scientist- Plantation Crop Nutrition

Role Purpose
To lead the development, evaluation, and commercialization of innovative soil-applied, Fertigation and foliar nutrition solutions for plantation crops, with a primary focus on formulation development, field validation, and scientific data analytics. The role will support sustainable productivity enhancement, soil health improvement, nutrient use efficiency, and climate-resilient nutrient management practices in plantation crops such as Oil Palm, Coffee Tea, Arecanut, Cocoa, and Spices.
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Key Responsibilities
A. Soil Applied, Fertigation & Foliar Nutrition Formulation, Field Evaluation & Data Analytics
Formulation Development
• Develop innovative fertilizer formulations, customized nutrient blends, specialty fertilizers, and enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEF) for plantation crops.
• Design nutrient management solutions based on crop demand, soil fertility status, and production targets.
• Optimize nutrient release characteristics, nutrient availability, and nutrient use efficiency.
• Support product scale-up, commercialization, and technical stewardship.
Field Evaluation
• Design, execute, and monitor multi-location agronomic trials across plantation crops.
• Develop crop-stage-specific nutrient recommendations for nursery, immature, mature, and bearing plantations.
• Evaluate product performance on growth, yield, quality, nutrient uptake, soil health, and economic returns.
• Generate scientific evidence to support product positioning and commercial deployment.

Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition Research
• Conduct soil fertility assessment and nutrient budgeting studies.
• Develop integrated nutrient management (INM) strategies for plantation systems.
• Study nutrient dynamics under different soil, climatic, and management conditions.
• Generate recommendations for sustainable nutrient management and carbon-smart agriculture.
Data Analysis & Reporting
• Analyse field, soil, plant, and laboratory data using statistical tools.
• Develop scientific reports, technical dossiers, publications, and recommendation documents.
• Generate actionable insights from research data to support business and product development decisions.
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B. Foliar Nutrition Formulation, Evaluation & Data Analytics
Foliar Formulation Development
• Develop crop-specific foliar nutrient formulations for plantation crops.
• Evaluate nutrient compatibility, stability, absorption, and efficacy.
• Work on micronutrient, secondary nutrient, and specialty foliar products.
Field Validation
• Conduct efficacy trials across tea, coffee, oil palm, coconut, rubber, and other plantation crops.
• Assess effects on nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, productivity, crop quality, and nutrient use efficiency.
• Develop stage-specific foliar nutrition schedules.
Technical Analytics
• Interpret agronomic and physiological responses from foliar nutrition trials.
• Prepare technical recommendations, product manuals, and training literature.
• Support registration and commercialization activities through scientific documentation.
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Key Competencies
Technical Competencies
• Strong expertise in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition.
• Fertilizer and Foliar Nutrient Formulation Development.
• Plantation Crop Agronomy and Nutrient Management.
• Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEF) and Specialty Nutrition Products.
• Soil Health Management and Sustainability.
• Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis.
• GIS, Digital Agriculture, and Decision-Support Systems (desirable).
Leadership Competencies
• Strategic thinking and innovation.
• Cross-functional collaboration.
• Project and stakeholder management.
• Scientific communication and technical influencing.
• Mentoring and capability development of research teams.
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Qualification: Ph.D. in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry