How do soils grow? Modelling soil development in the landscape. This project addresses the fundamental environmental issue of land degradation in Australia. The environment is both sensitive and diverse with uses from intensive agriculture, grazing, to large scale industrial. This project will build a model that will enable us to understand how soil forms and landscape evolves with time, to reconstruct the history of soil. The model will allow us to make the Australian populous aware of the frag ....How do soils grow? Modelling soil development in the landscape. This project addresses the fundamental environmental issue of land degradation in Australia. The environment is both sensitive and diverse with uses from intensive agriculture, grazing, to large scale industrial. This project will build a model that will enable us to understand how soil forms and landscape evolves with time, to reconstruct the history of soil. The model will allow us to make the Australian populous aware of the fragility of soil formation. This will lead to greater social awareness of our precarious position on the Australian landscape.Read moreRead less
The critical role of rhizosheath biophysics in plant water availability. This project aims to determine how plants can increase their water availability by altering the small volume of soil, rhizosheath that adheres to roots.
This project expects to integrate root exudates metabolomics, biophysics and microbial ecology to determine for the first time which of a suite of interconnected factors increase water availability in the root zone.
Expected outcomes include better understanding of the ....The critical role of rhizosheath biophysics in plant water availability. This project aims to determine how plants can increase their water availability by altering the small volume of soil, rhizosheath that adheres to roots.
This project expects to integrate root exudates metabolomics, biophysics and microbial ecology to determine for the first time which of a suite of interconnected factors increase water availability in the root zone.
Expected outcomes include better understanding of the direct and indirect roles of soil pore geometry, root exudates and microbial communities play in shaping plant’s ability to take up water from soil. This knowledge may ultimately pave the way for engineering the rhizosheath of crops to cope with increased drought conditions.
Read moreRead less
A general soil spatial scaling theory. Soil diversity is crucial for maintenance of sustainable ecosystems. Soil varies on a continuum from microbial habitats to fields, regions, continents and the globe. This project will take a unifying approach to derive a general spatial scaling theory that will allow us to estimate the likely behaviour of soil properties at all scales. Understanding the scaling behaviour of soil means one can be certain about describing the changes in relationships between ....A general soil spatial scaling theory. Soil diversity is crucial for maintenance of sustainable ecosystems. Soil varies on a continuum from microbial habitats to fields, regions, continents and the globe. This project will take a unifying approach to derive a general spatial scaling theory that will allow us to estimate the likely behaviour of soil properties at all scales. Understanding the scaling behaviour of soil means one can be certain about describing the changes in relationships between soil properties and processes. It will enhance the ability to monitor soil property changes through time, essential for gauging effects of climate change and achieving food security. Read moreRead less
Theoretically derived calibration of the neutron moisture meter. The moisture content of soils is of key importance in a wide range of situations including agriculture, engineering and land and water management. The measurement of soil moisture contents in the field is problematic, and even commonly used methods like the neutron probe give results of limited accuracy. This research will enable calibration curves for the neutron probe to be determined theoretically, thereby improving the accuracy ....Theoretically derived calibration of the neutron moisture meter. The moisture content of soils is of key importance in a wide range of situations including agriculture, engineering and land and water management. The measurement of soil moisture contents in the field is problematic, and even commonly used methods like the neutron probe give results of limited accuracy. This research will enable calibration curves for the neutron probe to be determined theoretically, thereby improving the accuracy of moisture content measurements and enhancing its usefulness to industry and research.Read moreRead less
Vulnerability of the Murray-Darling basin hydrometeorology to human modification. The Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) provides 40 per cent of Australia's agricultural production. Some 1,500,000 hectares use irrigation for agriculture and year-to-year variations in productivity highlights a basin that is vulnerable to changes resulting from human activity. This proposal builds an integrated modelling system of the MDB to understand its hydrology and meteorology in the context of human modification to ....Vulnerability of the Murray-Darling basin hydrometeorology to human modification. The Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) provides 40 per cent of Australia's agricultural production. Some 1,500,000 hectares use irrigation for agriculture and year-to-year variations in productivity highlights a basin that is vulnerable to changes resulting from human activity. This proposal builds an integrated modelling system of the MDB to understand its hydrology and meteorology in the context of human modification to climate and to land use in the basin. The improved understanding of the MDB will allow science-aware policy developments that reduce the vulnerability of agriculture and water resources within the basin to future changes caused through human activity.Read moreRead less