have excellent knowledge of different statistical experimental designs and have used RCB design, split plot design, split-split plot design and strip-split plot design during my graduate, and post-graduate. I have also been involved in variety trials and have investigated the effects of different inputs such as fertilizer, fungicide and plant growth regulators on grain yield and quality of different barley varieties.

1. 1
Dr Syed Shah
Research and development manager-West and Strategic Agronomist
Gender: Male
Work address: Agrii, Station Road, GL54 4LZ, Andoversford
Work mobile: (+44) 07730763993
Mobile number: (+44) 07515-808538
E-mail: syed.shah@agrii.co.uk
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:
Oct 2007- Jan 2012: PhD (Plant and Soil Science) from the University of Aberdeen
Other qualification:
1. M.Sc Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (Merit) from the University of
Leicester, UK
2. B.Sc (Hons ) and M.Sc in Crop Science
Professional quantifications:
BASIS (Diploma in Agronomy): BDA/234
BASIS (Crop Protection): E/7443/IFM
FACTS: FE/5032
BASIS (Soil & Water): SW/946
BASIS (Plant protection award): PPA/481
BASIS (Advanced cereals): C/228
BASIS (Nutrient management planning): NMP/320
BASIS (Conservation management):CM/299
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most recent and relevant work experience:
1. Research and development manager-West and Strategic Agronomist
Employer: Agrii (Masstock and UAP have combined to form Agrii)
April 2012-ongoing
1. Agronomy and crop nutrition advice responsibilities:
a. Technical advice to growers in terms of product choices which are
commercially important for the business
b. Crop nutrition advice to the Basis qualified farm managers and owner
c. Technical trainings for fertiliser and product managers to promote fertiliser
sales
d. Soil health improvement strategies (cover crops, organic manures, AD and
waste gypsum) for key estates
2. R&D responsibilities:
Designing protocols for various trials investigating the effects of different fungicides,
plant growth regulators, seed treatments, herbicides and crop nutrition products (major
and trace elements) on crop growth, development and yield of different varieties of

2. 2
wheat, barley and oilseed rape. Details of the trials as follows:
A. A Long term organic manure trial. This trial was set up in 2012
investigating the effect of different organic materials (FYM, Layer manure,
bio-solid, compost) on soil organic matter, water holding capacity, soil
biology and grain yield of different combinable crops over the last 4 harvest
years.
B. Weed control trials: These trials investigate the effect of a range of
chemical and cultural options (seed rate, variety, drilling date and cultivation
systems) in controlling weeds such as black-grass, brome grass and wild oats
in winter wheat and winter barley.
C. Fungicide trials: In these trial I primarily investigate the effect of a range
of fungicide treatments with different mode of action such as Triazloe, SDHI
, Strobs, and Folpet , their effects in relation to the timings of application on
disease incidence and grain yield of a range of winter wheat and winter
barley varieties.
D. Plant growth regulation trials: Most of these trials investigate the effect
of the interaction of a range of PGRs and varieties of wheat, barley and
oilseed rape on yield and lodging incidence.
E. Fertilizer trials: In these trial the main objective is to investigate the effect
of a range of N-fertilisers such as Urea and Urea treated with Avail and P-
reserve, Nitram, and liquid N-fertiliser on grain yield of wheat, barley and
oilseed rape. In addition to that I am looking at the effect of different trace
elements on growth, yield and quality of winter wheat and winter barley and
oilseed rape.
F. Variety trials: I am involved in variety trials with different breeders
evaluating the yield and quality responses of different wheat (1700
varieties), barley (60 varieties) and oilseed rape (103 varieties).
COMPETENCIES IN AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
• Understanding of crop nutrient requirement using knowledge of biological, physical and
chemical condition of soil, growing condition and yield potential of different cropvarieties.
• Understanding of the role of major plant nutrients and typical deficiency symptoms of
major and minor nutrients, situations that may lead to loss of nutrients from soil and the
ability identify any environmental implication.
• Ability to describe role of organic fertilizers such as farm yard manure, composed organic
materials, green manuring crops and other organic materials and hazards associated
with their application.
• Understanding of different scientific perspectives on water sciences particularly
hydrological, geomorphologic and ecological and the ability to explain to both specialist

3. 3
and non-specialist audience the concepts of integrated water resource management.
• Understanding the role of microorganisms in soil structure, element cycling, specific
geological processes, plant microbes’ interaction and possibility of manipulating such
interaction for agronomic advantage.
• Knowledge of different management approaches and strategies that can be used to deal
with the environmental concern using UK and EU systems of legislation andregulations.
I am based in Swindon and oversee various planting and harvesting operations as well as
application of treatments by a local contractor (Oxford Agricultural Trials Ltd). I ensure
that all treatments are applied as per protocol. I get also involved in data collection,
statistical analysis of the data, producing reports and presenting the results to the
company’s agronomists, customers in various technical meetings and national
/international conferences. I also provide technical advice to the company’s agronomists
and customers.
M.Sc Thesis (Agronomy): “Growth yield and physiological characteristics of wheat varieties
planted on different dates”. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of sowing
dates on yield and yield components of wheat varieties with special reference to flag leaf area
and flag leaf area duration under irrigated conditions.
B.Sc Dissertation (Agronomy): “Dry matter production and partitioning in various plant organs
of wheat varieties”
List of selected publications/conference proceedings/poster presentation:
1. Can cover crops justify their establishment cost and are there any potential benefits to
the following crops? Aspects of Applied Biology 129, 2015.
2. Triazole vs SDHI based fungicides: the incidence of septoria leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella
graminicola) in winter wheat varieties and its impact on grain yield. Aspects of Applied
Biology 127, 2014.
3. Effect of different cultivation systems, seed rate and nutrition on crop establishment and
yield of winter oilseed rape. Aspects of Applied Biology 125, 2014
4. Use of different cultivation systems and herbicide programmes as a part of an integrated
black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) control solution in winter wheat. Aspects of
Applied Biology 117:15-23, 2012,
Skills
(a) Professional skills
I have excellent knowledge of different statistical experimental designs and have used
RCB design, split plot design, split-split plot design and strip-split plot design during my graduate,
and post-graduate. I have also been involved in variety trials and have investigated the effects of
different inputs such as fertilizer, fungicide and plant growth regulators on grain yield and quality
of different barley varieties.

4. 4
(b) IT Skills
I have used MS Office, MStatC, SPSS, GenStat, and R-commander during my studies
and have excellent knowledge of these packages.
(c) Laboratory Skills:
I can use different laboratory equipments and have used Infratec 1241 grain analyzer,
Delta-T, WinDias image analysis system, Delta-T, SunScan analysis system “Delta-T, HH2
moisture meter, N-tester , Crop Circle , and Green Seeker in various research projects.
(d) Other Skills
I am an enthusiastic researcher and set high level standard of working. Before starting or
undertaking any research task I prefer to identify clear aims and objectives of the project, then
setting timeline and milestones for each task (literature review, secondary data collection, semi
structure interview etc). I believe in establishing effective communication links with the team
members involve in the project. I ensure the quality of my work by sharing my ideas with other
researchers in the relevant field and seeking their advice or guidance to improve the quality of my
work.
I am a good problem solver and I am good at evaluating the information and audit the
quality of my work. I am effective at identifying the options when making decisions. I have always
been a team player and actively help and support others and use their feedback to improve
myself. I encourage strong working relationships between the members of my team to build a
united and effective group of members. I am confident and effective in the manner I work and the
way I conduct confidence, gains the respect of my colleagues and supervisors. I believe these
skills will make me an asset for any organization.