An Interview with Prof. Dr. Hanuman Singh Jatav

Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research Editorial Office

1. LIDSEN Publishing Inc., 2000 Auburn Drive, One Chagrin Highlands, Suite 200, Beachwood, OH, USA

Received: October 26, 2025 | Accepted: October 26, 2025 | Published: October 27, 2025

Adv Environ Eng Res 2025, Volume 6, Issue 4, doi:10.21926/aeer.2504030

Recommended citation: Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research Editorial Office. An Interview with Prof. Dr. Hanuman Singh Jatav. Adv Environ Eng Res 2025; 6(4): 030; doi:10.21926/aeer.2504030.

© 2025 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the conditions of the Creative Commons by Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is correctly cited.

1. Could You Please Introduce Yourself Shortly and Your Research Field? Please Also Attach a Photo (Portrait or One from Research (Laboratory Etc.)).

Dr. Hanuman Singh Jatav is a highly accomplished Senior Assistant Professor and Chair in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Rajasthan. With over eight years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership, Dr. Jatav specializes in soil fertility management, biochar technology, sewage sludge reuse, micronutrient dynamics, and heavy metal pollution, with a focused commitment to climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture. His interdisciplinary research addresses critical areas such as soil-plant-environment interactions, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, restoration ecology, and climate-smart agriculture. Dr. Jatav obtained his B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture from MPUAT, Udaipur, and completed both M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry from the esteemed Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India.

Renowned for his significant contributions to sustainable soil and plant health management, Dr. Jatav has a prolific academic record with over 120 publications, including peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, book chapters, and technical reports. He has authored and edited several academic books with reputed publishers such as Springer, Taylor & Francis, CRC Press, Apple Academic Press, IntechOpen, Jaya and NIPA. Notably, his books are Amazon bestsellers and have been aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He serves in editorial and peer-review roles for several high-impact journals under Springer, Elsevier, MDPI, Frontiers, Taylor & Francis, CSIRO, PLOS One, HINDAWI, IWA, and ICAR journals. He has also served as Guest Editor for various special issues in Frontiers in Agronomy, SN Applied Sciences, Discover Soil, and Research in Ecology, and is also an editorial board member for numerous international journals in the fields of agriculture and environmental sciences.

Dr. Jatav has represented Indian agricultural science on the global stage, delivering invited lectures in Russia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the USA physically and virtually, including a stint as Visiting Professor at Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. He has participated in over 40 scientific conferences and completed more than 35 advanced training programs in Remote Sensing, Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Soil Health, and Geospatial Technologies, conducted by organizations such as ISRO-IIRS, ICAR, Oxford Climate Society, FAO–UN, and others.

Dr. Jatav has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the NSS Karamveer Award, Outstanding Assistant Professor Award at SKNAU, and the Ambassador Certificate from IUCN, Switzerland as well as from Government administration. He holds active memberships in over 15 national and international scientific societies. As a passionate educator, mentor, and science communicator, Dr. Jatav continues to advance the frontiers of agricultural research while fostering environmental stewardship through his unwavering dedication to academic excellence, outreach, and international collaboration.

Prof. Dr. Hanuman Singh Jatav

2. What Made You Interested in Your Research Field in the First Place?

Growing up in an agrarian region of Rajasthan, I witnessed the challenges farmers face due to soil degradation, low fertility and environmental pollution. During my academic journey at Banaras Hindu University, I developed a strong interest in the interaction of soils with organic amendments and pollutants. The possibility of improving crop productivity while safeguarding soil health inspired me to pursue soil science research as a tool for food security and environmental sustainability.

3. Could You Please Briefly Share Your Career Story with Us? And What Impressed You Most in Your Research Life?

I have started my School education in Government Sr. Sec. School Kherla Bujurg, Dausa and I began my academic career with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT), Udaipur, Rajasthan, followed by M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University. My doctoral research examined the effects of sewage sludge and fertilizers on soil fertility, heavy metals, and yield in a rice–wheat system.

Since 2018, I have served as Assistant Professor at Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University (SKNAU), Jobner, where I combine teaching, research, and extension activities. I have authored and edited several international books, contributed to over 100 publications, and delivered invited lectures in the USA, Russia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa physically and virtually. I am impressed with research life with the global collaboration and practical applicability of my work. Seeing how research outcomes can directly benefit farmers and improve soil and environmental sustainability remains my greatest motivation.

4. In Your Opinion, What May Be the Hot Topics of Your Research Field in the Coming Years?

• Sustainable use of sewage sludge and organic wastes for soil fertility improvement.
• Biochar and Nano Biochar applications in carbon sequestration, heavy metal immobilization, and climate change mitigation.
• Nanotechnology in soil nutrient management for efficiency enhancement.
• Soil carbon flux and climate-smart agriculture.
• Agroforestry and ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation and livelihood security.
• Digital agriculture, GIS/RS tools, and AI/ML for soil health monitoring and precision nutrient management.

5. What Valuable Suggestions Would You Like to Share with Young Scholars Regarding How to Be a Professional Researcher?

• Develop curiosity-driven research questions with practical relevance.
• Build strong fundamentals in theory and laboratory/field methods.
• Focus on publishing quality research in reputed journals rather than quantity.
• Engage in international collaboration to broaden perspectives.
• Stay updated with digital tools, AI, and remote sensing applications.
• Above all, maintain integrity, patience, and persistence, as research is a long-term commitment.

6. What Attracts You to Join the Editorial Board of Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research?

I am motivated to join the Editorial Board of Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research because it provides a platform to contribute to advancing interdisciplinary research on sustainable materials, soil amendments, and environmental management. My expertise in soil-plant-environment interactions, biochar, and pollutant remediation aligns well with the journal’s scope.

Being part of the board will allow me to:

• Support authors and reviewers in improving scientific quality.
• Promote innovative research on sustainable and eco-friendly materials.
• Enhance global knowledge exchange between soil science, materials science, and environmental engineering.

7. What Are the Recent Research Trends that You, as a Scholar, Would Suggest Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research to Observe and to Follow?

Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research (AEER) should place focused attention on emerging and high impact areas that are shaping the future of environmental science and engineering. Key priorities include addressing emerging contaminants, with research on their detection, fate, risks and innovative remediation strategies; investigating microplastics in terms of sources, transport pathways, health implications, and their role as contaminant vectors; advancing nature-based and hybrid engineered-natural solutions that enhance resilience to climate change while delivering co-benefits for ecosystems and society. Equally important is promoting a circular economy through waste valorization and the development of low-carbon materials, integrating engineering innovations with sustainability principles to minimize waste and recover valuable resources.

8. What Do You Think of the Future of Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research, an Open-Access Journal?

8.1 Citation Benefits of OA

Research shows that journals switching to open access often experience increased publication volumes and improved citation impact relative to control groups though the magnitude varies by discipline. This suggests an open-access model could bolster visibility and influence over time.

8.2 Shifts Toward Sustainable OA Models

Currently, the journal operates under the gold open-access model (CC BY 4.0), with author fees implied. The broader publishing ecosystem is seeing growing support especially in Europe.

8.3 Gradual Impact Growth

As the journal gains visibility supported by stronger editorial leadership and efficient publication workflows its citation metrics may improve. A sustained strategy in thematic issues and high-quality submissions could raise its impact factor and h-index.

8.4 Strategic Positioning in Open-Access Ecosystem

With global moves favouring equitable publication models, Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research could stand to benefit by aligning with initiatives like Plan S or transitioning toward diamond OA. That would especially appeal to researchers from regions or institutions with limited funding.

8.5 Strengthening Peer Review & Quality Differentiation

Maintaining stringent and transparent peer review standards will be critical, particularly as open-access proliferation raises concerns about quality in some quarters. Adherence to COPE standards and use of tools like iThenticate, Turnitin bolster credibility. Continued emphasis here will enhance trust.

8.6 Niche Leadership in Emerging Fields

By spotlighting emerging domains (e.g., sustainable materials, advanced characterization, computational thermodynamics), and through special issues or commissioned reviews, Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research can carve a distinctive niche that elevates its scholarly presence.

While Recent Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research is relatively early-stage in terms of citation impact, its open-access model, rapid publication process, and expanding editorial leadership position it well for growth. If it continues reinforcing quality, aligning with global OA trends, and carving thematic strengths, it could become a more influential venue in materials science over the coming years.