Research At COMSATS

Soil and Environment

Akhtar Iqbal

	Designation:	Associate Professor
	Email:	akhtariqbal@cuiatd.edu.pk
	Phone No. :	03339039797
	Role:	Faculty
	Research Interests:	Carbon and Nitrogen cycling in agro-ecosystems, Conservation agriculture, Soil Fertility, Agro-ecosystem services

Academics/ Degrees

Academic Profile

PhD Soil and Environmental Sciences: University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, France, 2013

Profile/Bio

Professional and Research Experience

Oct. 2013 to Continued: Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences COMSATS, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Oct. 2009 - Jun. 2013: Research Fellow, INRA, UMR, FARE, University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, France.

Projects

P-Solubilizing Microbial Consortia From Lower Himalayas And Their Potential For Bioethanol Production. 2016. Funding Agency- HEC (4.4M PKR)

Publications/Papers

2023

Journal

Faridullah,A.Arifeen,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F.Hafeez "Polish Journal of Environmental Studies" , Characterization of Heavy Metals in Soil as Affected by Different Land Uses in Northern Pakistan ,Volume 32 ,Issue 1 ,Page 559-566 , 2023

Faridullah,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,A.Arifeen "Iodine supplementation through its biofortification in Brassica species depending on the type of soil" , Environmental Science and Pollution Research ,Volume 2023 ,Issue 30 ,Page 37208–37218 , 2023

Faridullah,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Assessment of heavy metals and associated oxidative stress in occupationally exposed workers from Bannu and Karak Districts in Pakistan" , Environ Geochem Health ,Volume 2 ,Issue 5 ,Page 1-11 , 2023

M. Awais,R.Nazir,Faridullah,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,M.Irshad,F.Hafeez,U.Irshad "Proficient Lignocellulolytic Novel Bacterial Isolates from Diversified Galiyat Forests of Lower Himalaya" , Forests ,Volume 2023 ,Issue 14 ,Page 1-16 , 2023

2022

Journal

Dr. AM Abbasi,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Variations in Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoid Contents, and Free Radicals’ Scavenging Potential of Onion Varieties Planted under Diverse Environmental Conditions" , Plants ,Volume 11 ,Issue 7 , 2022

R.Nazir,F.Hafeez,M.Irshad,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,U.Irshad "Removal of Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Class 1 Integrase Gene and Escherichia coli Indicator Gene in a Microalgae-Based Wastewater Treatment System" , Antibiotics ,Volume 11 ,Issue 11 ,Page 1531 , 2022

Conference

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F.Hafeez,R.Nazir,M.Irshad,Faridullah "Assessment of nitrogen mineralization pattern in soil upon application of urea and bio-digestate" , ESCON22/SWMR/10 , 2022

2021

Journal

F.Hafeez,M.Irshad,Q.Mahmood,A.Tahir,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,Faridullah,Didar Ahmad "The comparative analysis of essential nutrient fractions in permafrost and different land use systems of Diamer Division, Gilgit-Baltistan" , Arabian Journal of Geosciences ,Volume 13 ,Page 1286 , 2021

F.Hafeez,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,R.Nazir "Assessing the N cycling ecosystem function - processes and the involved functional guilds upon plant litter amendment in lesser Himalaya" , Polish J environ studies ,Volume 30 ,Issue 1 ,Page 917–926 , 2021

Didar Ahmad,Faridullah,F.Hafeez,M.Irshad,Q.Mahmood,A.Tahir,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Comparative analysis of essential nutrients fractions in permafrost and different land use system of Diamer Division Gilgit Baltistan. " , Arabian Journal of Geosciences , 2021

Dr. AM Abbasi,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Protection is better than management to maintain tree species: A case study of lesser-Himalayan moist-temperate forests of Pakistan" , Trees, Forests and People ,Volume 6 , 2021

2020

Journal

Tahir Zaman,Wasila Qazi,Saeed Ahmad Asad,F.Hafeez,M.Bilal,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,R.Nazir,Sabir Hussain,M.Irshad "Nitrification resilience and response of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria upon heat-drought extremes across three soil ecosystems in lower Himalaya" , International Journal of Agriculture and Biology ,Volume 24 ,Issue 5 ,Page 1107-1114 , 2020

Tahir Zaman ,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,Areeba Shaukat ,R.Nazir,A.Pervez,M.Bilal,Faridullah,Muhammad Rizwan,Shafaqat Ali,Saad Alkahtani, Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim,F.Hafeez "Assessing the N Cycling Ecosystem Function-Processes and the Involved Functional Guilds upon Plant Litter Amendment in Lower Himalaya" , Polish Journal of Environmental Studies ,Volume 30 ,Issue 1 ,Page 917–926 , 2020

B.Amin,F.Hafeez,Hina Aman,M. Azeem,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,U.Irshad,R.Nazir "Characterization and Cellulolytic Enzyme Potential of P Solubilizers from Pine Forests of Lower Himalaya" , INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY ,Volume 24 ,Page 1242-1250 , 2020

2019

Journal

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F.Hafeez,R.Nazir "Assessment of Flood Induced Changes in Soil Heavy Metal and Nutrient Status in Rajanpur, Pakistan." , Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ,Volume 191 ,Page 234 , 2019

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Comparative effectiveness of different biochars and conventional organic materials on growth, photosynthesis and cadmium accumulation in cereals" , Chemoshpere ,Volume 227 ,Page 72-81 , 2019

R.Nazir,F.Hafeez,B.Amin,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Assessment of phosphorus availability in soil by introducing P -solubilizing novel bacterial and fungal strains of Lower Himalaya" , Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis ,Volume 50 ,Issue 13 ,Page 1541-1549 , 2019

Faridullah,F.Hafeez,B.Amin,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Assessment of Phosphorus Availability in Soil by Introducing P-Solubilizing Novel Bacterial and Fungal Strains of Lower Himalaya." , Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis ,Volume 50 ,Issue 13 ,Page 1541–1548 , 2019

M.Bilal,Uzair Akbar,F.Hafeez,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,Faridullah,R.Nazir,Bilal Ahmad Zafar Amin "Assessment of Phosphorus Availability in Soil by Introducing P-Solubilizing Novel Bacterial and Fungal Strains of Lower Himalaya" , Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis ,Volume 50 ,Issue 13 ,Page 1541-1549 , 2019

Conference

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,B.Amin,F.Hafeez,R.Nazir "Assessment of nitrogen release pattern for conventional and slow release fertilizers in two different soils. " , 6th International Conference on ''Sustainable Agriculture in Changing Climate: Strategies and Management , 2019

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F.Hafeez,B.Amin,R.Nazir "Heavy metals’ toxicity induced by cigarette butts’ decomposition in soil and their biosorption" , ESCON, 2019: International Conference on Environmental Toxicology and Health , 2019

R.Nazir,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Evaluation of novel lignocellulytic bacterial-fungal consortia originated from Lower Himalaya, for the excretion of degrading enzymes" , ESCON, Vehari , 2019

R.Nazir,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F.Hafeez "Effect of environmental conditions on lignocellulose degradation by the microbial consortium" , International conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences, University of Haripur , 2019

R.Nazir,B.Amin,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F.Hafeez "Evaluation of cellulase, xylanase and laccase activity of novel Himalayan microbial strains for bioethanol production in the region" , 6th International Conference on ''Sustainable Agriculture in Changing Climate: Strategies and Management. University of Poonch Rawalakot , 2019

2018

Journal

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Mulch of plant residues at the soil surface impact the leaching and persistence of pesticides: A modelling study from soil columns" , Journal of contaminant hydrology ,Volume 214 ,Page 54-64 , 2018

2017

Journal

Waseem Hayat,Hina Aman,R.Nazir,U.Irshad,M. Azeem,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Analysis of ecological attributes of bacterial phosphorus solubilizers, native to pine forests of Lower Himalaya" , Applied Soil Ecology ,Volume 112 ,Page 51-59 , 2017

U.Irshad,R.Nazir,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Novel P-Solubilizers from Calcium Bound Phosphate Rich Pine Forest of Lower Himalaya" , Geomicrobiology Journal ,Volume 34 ,Issue 2 ,Page 119-129 , 2017

Conference

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,R.Nazir "Forest litter decomposition and nutrients discharge in presence of additional cellulase and laccase positive microbial strains at high altitude." , 4th International Conference on Global Environmental Changes , 2017

K.Shah,Faridullah,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Cadmium Toxicity from Cigarette Butts’ Decomposition in Soil" , Environmentally Sustainable Development VII , 2017

2016

Journal

Umara Abbasi,A.Pervez,Z. A. Bhatti,Madiha Tariq,Shahida Shaheen,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,Q.Mahmood "Anaerobic MFC Treating Combined Industrial Wastewater: Correlation of Electricity Generation with Pollutants" , Bioresource technology ,Volume 200 ,Page 1-7 , 2016

Conference

Faridullah,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F.Hafeez "Extractability of potassium after livestock manure application to sandy and silty loam soils" , International Conference on Significance of Potash use in Pakistani Agriculture , 2016

2015

Journal

Sohaib Aslam,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,Marjolaine Deschamps,Sylvie Recous,Patricia Garnier,Pierre Benoit "Effect of rainfall regimes and mulch decomposition on the dissipation and leaching of S-metolachlor and glyphosate: a soil column experiment" , Pest Management Sciences , 2015

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Rain regime and soil type affect the C and N dynamics in soil columns that are covered with mixed-species mulches" , Plant Soil ,Volume 393 ,Page 319-334 , 2015

A. B. Abdullah,A. Alam,M.Irshad,Faridullah,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,F. Haque "Distribution and extraction of heavy metals in soil and their accumulation in Brassica oleracea L. after long term wastewater irrigation." , Journal of agriculture sciences, 2015 ,Volume 7 ,Issue 6 ,Page 171-183 , 2015

Umara Abbasi,Wang Jin,A.Pervez,Z. A. Bhatti,Madiha Tariq,Shahida Shaheen,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,Q.Mahmood "Anaerobic microbial fuel cell treating combined industrial wastewater: Correlation of electricity generation with pollutants" , Bioresource Technology ,Volume 200 ,Issue 2016 ,Page 1-7 , 2015

Fayyaz Ali Shah,Q.Mahmood,Naim Rashid,A.Pervez,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,M.Shah "Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth, Giant Reed, Maize and Poultry Waste for Biogas Generation" , EC Agriculture 2015 ,Volume 2 ,Issue 2 ,Page 277-284 , 2015

2013

Journal

Patricia Garnier,Gwenaëlle Lashermes,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,Sylvie Recous "A new equation to simulate the contact between soil and maize residues of different sizes during their decomposition" , Biology and Fertility of soils , 2013

2012

Journal

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal, Johnny Beaugrand,Patricia Garnier,Sylvie Recous "Tissue density determines the water storage characteristics of crop residues" , Plant and Soil ,Volume 367 ,Issue 1 ,Page 285-299 , 2012

Conference

Dr. Akhtar Iqbal "Effect of mulch quality and soil type on C and N biotransformation and transport in soil" , 4th International congress EUROSOIL , 2012

Awards/ Appreciations

Academic honours

HEC Overseas scholarship for M Phil leading to Ph. D. in France (2008-2009)
Ph. D. grant from INRA, France (2009-2012)
3rd position in M. Phil. from University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, France
Best grade in Ph. D. defense (Tres honorable avec les felicitations) from University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, France