About

Dr. Kunal is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the School of Allied Health Sciences and Deputy Dean (Research) at Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University, Gurugram, Haryana. He holds a PhD in Biotechnology (Microbial Technology) from Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (Deemed University), Patiala, Punjab, and completed his postdoctoral research at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. With over a decade of academic and research experience in Microbiology and allied areas of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dr. Kunal’s research focuses on plant–microbe interactions, nutrient-use efficiency in crop plants, microbial bioremediation, and microbial interactions with industrial wastes. He has authored more than 70 research articles, with a cumulative impact factor exceeding 120, over 2,100 citations, an H-index of 18, and an i10-index of 19. He also serves as an editorial board member and reviewer for several reputed international journals. Dr. Kunal is a Life Member of the Indian Science Congress Association, Association of Microbiologists of India, Microbiologists Society India, and Asian PGPR Society of Sustainable Agriculture, Auburn, USA. His contributions to research, academia, and scientific advancement reflect his sustained commitment to excellence in Microbiology and allied sciences.

Services Offered

Publications

• Mahendru Kumar Gautam, Shanjeev Sharma, Rohit Kumar, Atin Kumar, Kunal, Hemant Jayant, Dharmendra Kumar, Mahendra Singh, Mandeep Kumar, Vishnu D. Rajput, and et al. 2026. Depth-Wise Assessment of Soil Fertility and Organic Carbon Under Different Land Use Systems: Implications for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Smallholder Agroecosystems. Land (MDPI), 15: 953. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15060953 (IF: 3.2; Q1) (ISSN: 2073-445X)
• Rajan Bhatt, Kunal, Debojyoti Moulick, Viliam Barek, Marian Brestic, Ahmed Gaber, Milan Skalicky, Akbar Hossain (2025). Sustainable strategies to limit nitrogen loss in agriculture through improving its use efficiency – aiming to reduce environmental pollution. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research (Elsevier), 22: 101957. DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101957 (IF: 4.8; Q1) (ISSN: 2666-1543)
• Pooja Vasuja and Kunal (2025). Virovory: control of viral pathogenesis by the protists and the way forward. Critical Reviews in Microbiology (Taylor & Francis), 51(6):1246-1254. DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2493908 (IF: 5.1; Q1) (ISSN: 1549-7828)
• Kunal, Mansi Dubey, Sangeeta Kumari, and Machiavelli Singh (2025) The Human Microbiome: An Invisible Key to Unlocking Wellness. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 19(1): 49-63. DOI: 10.22207/JPAM.19.1.20 (IF: 0.7; Q3) (ISSN: 0973-7510)
• Rajan Bhatt and Kunal (2024). Leaf Color Chart for Sustainable Nitrogen Utilization - Concept and Ways Forward. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (Taylor & Francis), 55(20): 3133-3144. (IF: 1.4; Q2) (ISSN: 0010-3624)
• Kailash Chand Kumawat, Poonam Sharma, Asmita Sirari, Barkha Sharma, Gayatri Kumawat, R.M. Nair, Bindumadhavan H, and Kunal (2024) Co-existence of halo-tolerant Pseudomonas fluorescens and Enterococcus hirae with multifunctional growth promoting traits to ameliorate salinity stress in Vigna radiata. Chemosphere (Elsevier), 349: 140953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140953 (IF: 8.1; Q1) (ISSN:0045-6535)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Navneet Kaur, Kunal, Blestar Singh, Jeewesh Kumar, Aman Thapar and Eric S Ober (2024) Reactive nitrogen fluxes from soils to atmosphere in baby corn based cropping system. Journal of Plant Nutrition (Taylor & Francis), 47: 940-957. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2023.2291027 (IF: 2.1; Q2) (ISSN: 1532-4087)
• Kunal, Pranaw K, Kumawat KC & Meena VS (2023). Editorial: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant hormones: an approach for plant abiotic stress management and sustainable agriculture. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14: 1285756. (IF: 4.5; Q1) (ISSN: 1664-302X)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Kunal, Kaur J, Bhatt R, Kaur S, Dhillon BS, Singh KB, Singh S, Sharma S & Bijay-Singh (2023). Site-Specific Fertilizer Nitrogen Management in Less and High N Responsive Basmati Rice Varieties Using Newly Developed PAU-Leaf Colour Chart. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (Taylor & Francis), 54(10): 1334-1339. (IF: 1.4; Q2) (ISSN: 1532-2416)
• Gyan Vandana Yadav, Sandhya Khunger, Kunal (2023). Allergic contact dermatitis due to chemical agents and microbial contaminants in cosmetic products: A review. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 17 (3): 1391-1399. (IF: 0.7; Q3) (ISSN: 0973-7510)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Kunal, Mehtab-Singh and Bijay-Singh (2022) Spectral indices measured with proximal sensing using canopy reflectance sensor, chlorophyll meter and leaf colour chart for in-season grain yield prediction of basmati rice. Pedosphere (Elsevier), 32 (6): 812-822. (IF: 7.3; Q1) (ISSN: 1002-0160)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Kunal, SK Gosal, Rita Choudhary, Reena Singh and Alok Adholeya (2022) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and proximal sensing for improving nutrient use efficiencies in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Journal of Plant Nutrition (Taylor & Francis), 45: 1291-1304. (IF: 1.7; Q2) (ISSN: 1532-4087)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Kunal, Rajinder Kaur, Mehtab-Singh, Mohkam-Singh, Harpreet-Singh and Bijay-Singh (2022) Prediction of grain yield and nitrogen uptake by basmati rice through in-season proximal sensing with a canopy reflectance sensor. Precision Agriculture (Springer), 23: 733-747. (IF: 6.6; Q1) (ISSN: 1573-1618)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Navneet Kaur, Kunal, Blestar Singh, Jeewesh Kumar, Aman Thapar and Eric S Ober (2021) Nitrate leaching from applied fertilizer is reduced by precision nitrogen management in baby corn cropping systems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems (Springer), 120: 379-391. (IF: 2.7; Q1) (ISSN: 1573-0867)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Kunal, SK Gosal, Rita Choudhary, Reena Singh and Alok Adholeya (2021) Improving nitrogen use efficiency using precision nitrogen management in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science (Wiley), 184: 371-377. (IF: 2.8; Q1) (ISSN: 1522-2624)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Kunal, Sandeep Sharma, SK Gosal, Rita Choudhary, Reena Singh, Alok Adholeya and Bijay-Singh (2020). Optical sensing and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for improving fertilizer nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies in maize. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (Springer), 20: 2087-2098. (IF: 3.1; Q1) (ISSN: 0718-9516)
• Varinderpal-Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Kunal, SK Gosal, Rita Choudhary, Reena Singh, Alok Adholeya and Bijay-Singh (2020). Synergistic use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and spectral properties for improving nutrient use efficiencies in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (Taylor & Francis), 51: 14-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2019.1689259 (IF: 1.4; Q2) (ISSN: 1532-2416)
• Rafat Siddique, Abir Jameel, Malkit Singh, Danuta Barnat-Hunek, Kunal, Abdelkarim Ait-Mokhtar, Rafik Belarbi and Anita Rajor (2017). Effect of bacteria on strength, permeation characteristics and micro-structure of silica fume concrete. Construction and Building Materials (Elsevier), 142: 92-100. (IF: 8.0; Q1) (ISSN: 0950-0618)
• Kunal, Anita Rajor and Rafat Siddique (2016). Bacterial Treatment of Alkaline Cement Kiln Dust by using Bacillus halodurans strain KG1. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (Springer Nature), 47: 1-9. (IF: 1.9; Q3) (ISSN: 1517-8382)
• Rafat Siddique, Karambir Singh, Kunal, Malkit Singh, Valeria Corinaldesi and Anita Rajor (2016). Properties of bacterial rice husk ash concrete. Construction and Building Materials (Elsevier), 121: 112-119. (IF: 8.0; Q1) (ISSN: 0950-0618)
• Kunal, Rafat Siddique, Anita Rajor and Malkit Singh (2016). Influence of bacterial treated cement kiln dust on strength and permeability of concrete. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (ASCE), 28: 04016088-1 - 04016088-2. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001593. (IF: 3.0; Q1) (ISSN 0899-1561)
• Rafat Siddique, Vasu Nanda, Kunal, El-Hadj Kadri, M Iqbal Khan, Malkit Singh and Anita Rajor (2016). Influence of bacteria on compressive strength and permeation properties of concrete made with cement baghouse filter dust. Construction and Building Materials (Elsevier), 106: 461-469. (IF: 8.0; Q1) (ISSN: 0950-0618)
• Kunal, Rafat Siddique and Anita Rajor (2014). Strength and Microstructure Analysis of Bacterial Treated Cement Kiln Dust Mortar. Construction and Building Materials (Elsevier), 63: 49-55. (IF: 8.0; Q1) (ISSN: 0950-0618)
• Kunal, Rafat Siddique and Anita Rajor (2014). Influence of bacterial treated cement kiln dust on the properties of concrete. Construction and Building Materials (Elsevier), 52: 42-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.11.034 (IF: 8.0; Q1) (ISSN: 0950-0618)
• Kunal, Anita Rajor and Rafat Siddique (2013). Biological treatment of alkaline cement kiln dust by using alkalitolerant bacteria. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 7: 1933-1942. (IF: 0.7; Q3) (ISSN: 0973-7510)
• Anita Rajor, Monika Xaxa, Ratika Mehta and Kunal (2012). An overview on characterization, utilization and leachate analysis of biomedical waste incinerator ash. Journal of Environmental Management (Elsevier), 108: 36-41. (IF: 8.4; Q1) (ISSN: 0301-4797 online)
• Kunal, Rafat Siddique and Anita Rajor (2012). Use of cement kiln dust in cement concrete and its leachate characteristics. Resources, Conservation and Recycling (Elsevier), 61: 59-68. (IF: 10.9; Q1) (ISSN: 0921-3449 online)
• Kunal and Poonam Sharma (2012). Compatibility of Mesorhizobium sp. Cicer with seed treatment of fungicide and insecticide in chickpea. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science (Taylor & Francis), 58 (1): 115-123. (IF: 1.8; Q1) (ISSN: 1476-3567 online)
• Kunal and Poonam Sharma (2012). Influence of pesticide-treated seeds on survival of Mesorhizobium sp. Cicer, symbiotic efficiency and yield in chickpea. Plant Protection Science, 48: 37-43. (IF: 1.4; Q2) (ISSN: 1212-2580)