A5081241579- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Soil and Unsaturated Flow
- Clay minerals and soil interactions
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Soil Geostatistics and Mapping
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Genetics and Plant Breeding
- Phosphorus and nutrient management
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Agricultural Science and Fertilization
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
Murdoch University
2021-2024
The University of Western Australia
2005-2023
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
2011-2017
Government of Western Australia
2011-2016
Agriculture and Food
2007
Royal Astronomical Society
1949
The microbial partitioning of organic carbon (C) into either anabolic (i.e. growth) or catabolic respiration) metabolic pathways represents a key process regulating the amount added C that is retained in soil. factors use efficiency (CUE) agricultural soils, however, remain poorly understood. aim this study was to investigate substrate CUE from wide range soils (n = 970) and geographical area (200,000 km2) determine which soil properties most influenced retention within community. Using...
Not only do soils provide 98.7% of the calories consumed by humans, they also numerous other functions upon which planetary survivability closely depends. However, our continuously increasing focus on for biomass provision (food, fiber, and energy) through intensive agriculture is rapidly degrading diminishing their capacity to deliver vital functions. These tradeoffs in soil functionality – increased one function at expense critical are this review. We examine how land-use change has...
Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are commonly used plastic additives, not chemically bound to the that migrate into surrounding environments, posing a threat environmental and human health. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) di(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP) two common PAEs found in agricultural soils, where degradation is attributed microbial decomposition. Yet impact of matrix on PAE rates poorly understood. Using 14C-labelled DBP DEHP we show migration from soil represents key rate limiting step their...
Since 1970, measurement of the soil microbial biomass (SMB) has been widely adopted as a relatively simple means assessing impact environmental and anthropogenic change on microorganisms. The SMB is living dynamic, its activity responsible for regulation organic matter transformations associated energy nutrient cycling in soil. At gross level, an increase considered beneficial, while decline may be detrimental if this leads to biological function. However, absolute values are more difficult...
Assessment of the potential for soil carbon sequestration based on type, land use, and climate scenarios is crucial determining which agricultural regions can be used to help mitigate increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In semi-arid Mediterranean-type environments, organic (SOC) storage capacity rarely achieved under dryland systems. We aimed assess both actual (measured) attainable (modelled) SOC stock values production zone Western Australia. measured (0–0.3 m) known constraints...
Abstract Rebuilding ‘lost’ soil carbon (C) is a priority in mitigating climate change and underpinning key functions that support ecosystem services. Microorganisms determine if fresh C input converted into stable organic matter (SOM) or lost as CO 2 . Here we quantified microbial biomass respiration responded positively to addition of light fraction (LFOM, representing recent inputs plant residue) an infertile semi-arid agricultural soil. Field trial with different historical residue [soil...
Increasing soil organic matter (OM) is promoted as a strategy for improving the resilience of coarse-textured cropping soils in semi-arid climates. While increasing OM can benefit crop productivity, it also enhance nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions temperate Our objective was to investigate if affected greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and grain production region south-western Australia. We firstly measured N2O methane (CH4) from free-draining sandy with contrasting content 2.5 years using automated...
Difficulties in the current theory of formation E ‐layer are summarized. Consideration is given to possibility that it produced by high‐energy photons thought be emitted solar corona. The energy‐distribution needed investigated, and found sufficient there a photon‐group either at about 325 e‐V or 1300 e‐V. However only former would give detailed agreement with observation; latter not fully satisfactory owing effects secondary emission Earth's atmosphere. general requirements consistent...
Modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) has been well adapted for survival and production in water-limited environments since it was first domesticated the Mediterranean basin at least 8000 years ago. Adaptation to various assisted through selection cross-breeding traits that contribute high stable yield time. Improvements crop management aimed improving grain quality probably developed more slowly but rate of change accelerated recent decades. Many studies have shown contribution increased...
The long-term (16-year) effect of stubble management (i.e. retained or burnt) on the size microbial community (microbial biomass-C and -N), structure (PLFA), function (CO2-C evolution, gross N transformation rates, enzymatic activity, level physiological profiles) was investigated 4 occasions during a single wheat-growing season using soil collected from low-rainfall (<250 mm) region Western Australia. Significant differences (P < 0.001) in were determined for different sampling times...
Few studies describe the primary drivers influencing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and distribution of (C) fractions in agricultural systems from semi-arid regions; yet these soils comprise one fifth global land area. Here we identified for changes total SOC associated particulate (POC), humus (HOC) resistant (ROC) C 1347 sample points region Western Australia. Total stock (0-0.3 m) varied 4 to 209 t ha(-1) with 79% variation explained by measured variables. The proportion POC, HOC ROC...
Unprecedented plastic production has resulted in over six billion tons of harmful waste. Certain insect taxa emerge as potential agents biodegradation. Through a comprehensive manual and bibliometric literature analysis, this review analyses consolidates the growing related to insect-mediated breakdown. Over 23 species, representing Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, 4 other orders, have been identified for their capacity consume polymers. Natural synthetic polymers exhibit high-level similarities...
Soil organic carbon (SOC) has the potential to benefit soil function and fertility, in agricultural production systems, it is considered integral sustainable farming. We analyse value of SOC cropping systems south-west Western Australia terms agronomic benefits from increasing productivity (through increased plant-available water-holding capacity) reducing fertiliser use (due mineralisation nitrogen). also present sequestration if landholders were able participate a carbon-sequestration...
The agricultural sector generates a substantial proportion of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Changes to practices can provide GHG abatement by maintaining or increasing soil organic (SOC) stored in soils vegetation, decreasing N2O emissions. However, it be difficult identify that achieve net because increase SOC stocks may also from the soil. This study simulated on-farm gross margins for range management scenarios on two grain...