Early in the development of the University in 1960’s, the necessity for developing a Radiotracer Laboratory was realised due to the unique importance of Radiations and Radioisotopes in modern agricultural and basic research. The Radiations and Isotopic Tracers Laboratory (R.I.T.L.) was constructed under the guidance of BARC, DAE, (Govt. of India) in the College of Basic Sciences & Humanities and recognized as a ‘B’- class laboratory by A.E.R.B. (Govt. of India) for handling/use of radioisotopes.

The laboratory functions primarily as a Central Research Facility for the university. It has emerged as an active centre for inter-disciplinary teaching and research involving radioisotopes in basic, agricultural, & veterinary sciences, as also in engineering and biotechnology and

To procure radioisotopes and radio-labelled compounds for the users.

To plan, guide & monitor the radio-tracers experiments.

To manage the radioactive waste and radiation safety of users.

To maintain liaison between the University departments and also with the Division of Radiological Protection, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board(Government of India), and Board of Radiations and Isotopes Technology (BRIT, D.A.E.) as far as use of Radioisotopes is concerned.

To assist the university scientists in the planning of their research proposals and execution of the research projects in which the radioisotopes or use of radiations are involved.

Courses Offered

Laboratories

Beta Lab

Soft Beta Lab

Gamma Lab

Radiobiological Lab

Radioactive Decontamination Lab

UG/PG Instructional Lab

Radiochemistry Lab

Equipments

Liquid Scintillation Counter, Phosphor (FX) Image Analysis, Solid Scintillation Counter Gamma Ray Spectrometer (RIA), Geiger Mûller Counters, Gas Flow Proportional Counter, Plant Growth Chamber, Radiation Survey & Contamination Monitoring systems, Hands and Clothing Monitor System, Autoradiography Facilities, Remote Handling devices & Fume-Hood.

The radiotracers techniques offer many advantages over traditional methods and in many cases they are indispensable. Exploiting this potential the use of radioisotopes and radiations has been perused in many areas. The techniques have been effectively utilized at R.I.T.L. both for Post- graduate research as well as for developing externally funded research projects in diverse scientific disciplines.

During the past few years the main research activities have been in the following fields:

Studies on the mechanism of nutrient uptake in plant

Studies on the effect of pendimethyline herbicide on the uptake of Calcium by roots.

Development of Cerenkov radiation counting technique for 32P.

Studies on water content determination in plant leaves using the technique of beta gauging.

Studies on soil moisture determination using gamma ray attenuation technique.

Effect of salinity on decarboxylase activity in salt sensitive and salt tolerant varieties of rice.

Studies related to the “Immunomodulatory properties” of some Himalayan herbs and plants.

Adsorption and desorption of zinc in soil under different physicochemical conditions.

Estimation of steroid hormones in milk and body fluids of cattle using RIA technique.

Studies on feeding efficacy of coccinella septempunctata on lipaphis erysimi and their prey-predator relationship using radiotracer technique.

Studies related to uptake and localization of iron in sugarcane (Saccharum Officinarum L.) Plants using 55Fe and 59Fe.

Utilization of Agro-Industrial Waste for production of high efficiency P and Zn fertilizers.

Study of P-32 and Zn-65 uptake in maize plants using phosphor imager (FX).

Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Technique for multielemental analysis of soil, plant and water samples.