Focus of Research :
Carbon sequestration studies, Mangrove ecosystems, Sediment Chemistry, Marine pollution
Background :
Current Designation & Affiliation
- Senior Scientist (Soil Science), Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, Kerala, India (February 2026 – Present).
Professional Experience
- Scientist (Soil Science), ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Regional Station, Vittal, Karnataka (2015 – 2018).
- Scientist (Soil Science), ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP), Regional Station, Bangalore, Karnataka (2018 – 2024).
- Senior Scientist (Soil Science), ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP), Regional Station, Bangalore, Karnataka (2024 – 2026).
Areas of Research Expertise
- Soil fertility dynamics and management within plantation ecosystems.
- Pedological investigations, soil surveys, and comprehensive land resource inventories.
- Strategic land use planning and agricultural sustainability assessment.
Recognized Postgraduate Teaching Faculty at the Dept. of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, Karnataka.
Education :
Academic Credentials
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, 2014.
- Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, 2011.
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Ag.) in Agricultural Sciences, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Kerala, 2008
Current Research Projects :
- Impact of coastal marine pollution on the ecosystem’s health, biodiversity, and mitigation measures-ICAR
- Ecological impacts of abnormal weather events: A spatio-temporal analysis of the Indian coast-ICAR
- Understanding the Essential Fish Habitats (EFHs) for sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystem-ICAR
- National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)
Awards & Recognitions :
Commendation Certificate for ISSS- Best Doctoral Research Presentation Award (South Zone) 2015
UAS-B Gold medal for general merit for M.Sc. (2011) and Ph.D.(2014)
UAS STCR Gold Medal for M.Sc. (2011) and Ph.D. (2014)
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship 2011 for Ph.D.
ICAR - Junior Research Fellowship (2009)
Publications:
- Karthika, KS, Anil Kumar KS, Nair KM, Violet M. D’Souza, Nagaraj, J. S., Lalitha, M. Arti Koyal, Jayaramiah, M., Parvathy, S., Sujatha, K., Shivanand, K., Ramamurthy, V., Srinivas, S., Raghuramulu, Y., Hegde, R. and Singh, S. K. 2022 Sustainability of coffee land use upon conversion from natural forest in Western Ghats of South India: An evaluation. Soil Use Manage. 38: 873– 889. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12692
- Karthika, K.S., Anil Kumar, K.S., K.M. Nair, Jayaramiah, M., and Parvathy, S., 2024. Soil taxonomical classification and organic carbon sequestration potential of coastal acid sulfate soils: Kari and Kayal ecosystems of Kerala, India. Journal of Coastal Conservation. 28:26 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-023-01022-1
- Karthika K. S., K. S. Anil Kumar, K. M. Nair, Kalaiselvi B., Lalitha M., Parvathy S. and V. Ramamurthy (2024) Assessing changes in soil organic carbon stocks and vulnerability to land degradation in Western Ghats, South India: Is it restorative enough? Soil Use Management. 40:e13056. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.13056
- Karthika, K.S., Anil Kumar, K.S., Srinivasan, R., Chandrakala, M. and Hegde, R. (2024). Characterization and Classification of Pigeon Pea Growing Soils and their Land Suitability for Hot Semiarid Deccan Plateau, India. Legume Research. 47(10): 1730-1736. doi: 10.18805/LR-4774.
- Karthika K.S., Anil Kumar K.S., Srinivasan R., and Chandrakala M. (2026) Morphological characteristics and degradation vulnerability of hill side slope soils under natural forest and agroforestry in semi-arid Telangana, India. Range management and agro-forestry, 47 (1) : 1-10
Best 5 Publications :
Links to other profiles :
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=CXtmyxMAAAAJ
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karthika-K-S?ev=hdr_xprf
