Dr. Lajpat R. Ahuja

Dr. Lajpat R. Ahuja，soil scientist and research leader of great plains systems research unit in natural resources research center, worked for USDA-ARS. He discovered a mathematical similarity and a dimensional transformation for infiltration into crusted soils and a method to estimate both water retention curve and saturated conductivity from bulk density and field capacity, and a more general method to relate soil-water properties across dissimilar soil types; developed new simple power-form equations and Green-Ampt type models and an accelerated diffusion model and a non-uniform mixing model for estimating chemicals in runoff being used in EPA and industry models, and several new simpler methods of determining soil hydraulic properties and their spatial variability for applications.

Now he focused on quantifying management effects on soil properties and processes, and development and national/international evaluation of ARS Root Zone Water Quality and GPFARM Decision Support System models.