Combating subsoil acidity for sustainable production through managing plant cation-anion uptake. At least 50 million hectares of topsoil and 23 million ha of subsoil of Australian land are presently affected by acidity, with this area expanding due to the ongoing processes of acidification. Surface liming is ineffective in neutralizing subsoil acidity. The project will develop an innovative method that stimulates root proliferation and ameliorates subsoil acidity through manipulating the balance ....Combating subsoil acidity for sustainable production through managing plant cation-anion uptake. At least 50 million hectares of topsoil and 23 million ha of subsoil of Australian land are presently affected by acidity, with this area expanding due to the ongoing processes of acidification. Surface liming is ineffective in neutralizing subsoil acidity. The project will develop an innovative method that stimulates root proliferation and ameliorates subsoil acidity through manipulating the balance of nutrient uptake by plants. The effects of the developed method on nutrient use efficiency and leaching loss, and crop yields will be quantified under different soil types and climatic conditions.Read moreRead less
Using defined biotic and abiotic stimuli to dissect patterns of gene expression and protein accumulation that specify root architecture. Root morphogenesis is fundamental to agriculture and valuable for investigating the informational networks of genes, proteins and metabolites that control root growth and plant development. Root systems vary widely both within and between species. Root morphology is directed by a basic genetic program that is influenced by environmental factors to provide an e ....Using defined biotic and abiotic stimuli to dissect patterns of gene expression and protein accumulation that specify root architecture. Root morphogenesis is fundamental to agriculture and valuable for investigating the informational networks of genes, proteins and metabolites that control root growth and plant development. Root systems vary widely both within and between species. Root morphology is directed by a basic genetic program that is influenced by environmental factors to provide an enormous "phenotypic plasticity". This project will use two model plant systems to investigate how different external signals are "translated" by the plant into different developmental regimes. This knowledge is crucial to understanding how the plasticity of root development is modulated in response to changing environmental factors.Read moreRead less
Forecasting locust outbreaks: evaluation of an Insect Monitoring Radar network. A recently developed technology that allows high-altitude migrations of insects to be detected automatically and at modest cost will be adapted to the specific task of forecasting Australian plague locusts. A network of two 'Insect Monitoring Radars' (IMRs) will be operated in a locust outbreak area, and observation summaries, customised to identify major locust migration events and to estimate their source and desti ....Forecasting locust outbreaks: evaluation of an Insect Monitoring Radar network. A recently developed technology that allows high-altitude migrations of insects to be detected automatically and at modest cost will be adapted to the specific task of forecasting Australian plague locusts. A network of two 'Insect Monitoring Radars' (IMRs) will be operated in a locust outbreak area, and observation summaries, customised to identify major locust migration events and to estimate their source and destination regions, will be presented daily to forecasters at the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC). The potential contribution of IMRs to APLC's strategic goal of reducing chemical insecticide usage while maintaining protection of valuable crops will be evaluated.Read moreRead less
Water and nutrient stress detection in broad acre crops using remote sensing. The national benefit of the remote sensing of water and nutrient levels in crops comes from improved agricultural practice; leading to cost savings, reduced water usage and reduced pollution. This benefit will arise since irrigation and fertiliser application can be exactly tailored to the measured needs of broad-acre crops. In Australia, water is a scarce resource. Reducing consumption by irrigators will have signi ....Water and nutrient stress detection in broad acre crops using remote sensing. The national benefit of the remote sensing of water and nutrient levels in crops comes from improved agricultural practice; leading to cost savings, reduced water usage and reduced pollution. This benefit will arise since irrigation and fertiliser application can be exactly tailored to the measured needs of broad-acre crops. In Australia, water is a scarce resource. Reducing consumption by irrigators will have significant downstream benefits. By remote measurement of nutrient variation within paddocks, fertiliser applications can be optimised. Minimum excess fertiliser will then be present and this will minimise runoff and potential downstream water pollution.Read moreRead less
Role of alanine aminotransferase in improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers by crop plants is poor where efficiencies (nitrogen taken up to that applied) is often less than 40%. Nitrogen not used is often lost to the environment through leaching and or volatilisation. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agriculture will decrease overall nitrogen fertiliser use and minimise its environmental footprint. This project will characterise a nov ....Role of alanine aminotransferase in improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers by crop plants is poor where efficiencies (nitrogen taken up to that applied) is often less than 40%. Nitrogen not used is often lost to the environment through leaching and or volatilisation. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agriculture will decrease overall nitrogen fertiliser use and minimise its environmental footprint. This project will characterise a novel NUE technology that when transferred to plants significantly improves NUE. We will define the phenotype at the molecular, biochemical and physiological levels to maximise its adoption to other agricultural crops such as wheat, barley and maize.Read moreRead less
Investigation of Australian crop species for the rhizoremediation of residual sulfonyl urea herbicide contaminations in agricultural soils. This research aims to identify an environmentally sustainable and economically viable solution to the problem of residual herbicide contaminations in agricultural soils. The strategy is focused on stimulation of microbial degradation of pesticides in the root zone of crop species (Lupins). Such a strategy will improve crop yields and reduce soil contaminatio ....Investigation of Australian crop species for the rhizoremediation of residual sulfonyl urea herbicide contaminations in agricultural soils. This research aims to identify an environmentally sustainable and economically viable solution to the problem of residual herbicide contaminations in agricultural soils. The strategy is focused on stimulation of microbial degradation of pesticides in the root zone of crop species (Lupins). Such a strategy will improve crop yields and reduce soil contaminations and environmental impacts at minimal cost. Read moreRead less
Collaborative planning support tools for optimising farming systems (CPSTOF). What you know about what you can grow is becoming a key issue in farm management. Better guidance on alternative land cropping systems that can be grown to optimise farm productivity is needed. Micro-level land classes maps have been identified hby AgWA, farmers and regional development and community groups as an urgent need to enable them to design resilient and diversified farming systems. To this end, we propose ....Collaborative planning support tools for optimising farming systems (CPSTOF). What you know about what you can grow is becoming a key issue in farm management. Better guidance on alternative land cropping systems that can be grown to optimise farm productivity is needed. Micro-level land classes maps have been identified hby AgWA, farmers and regional development and community groups as an urgent need to enable them to design resilient and diversified farming systems. To this end, we propose integrating high resolution digital multispectral images, GIS and multi-criteria decision analysis techniques to help farmers use input appropriate to the productive capacity of their paddocks and to elaborate sound farm planning based on the potential of the land for specific land uses.Read moreRead less
Life hanging on a thread; disrupting the structure and function of lepidopteran silking behaviour. The production and use of silk by many invertebrates is vital for their survival. We develop a means of visualising and understanding the role of silking behaviour as a survival mechanism for Helicoverpa larvae (a key world-wide pest) with a view to disrupting silking. This novel project allows us to understand not just where larvae go but what they do along the way. The project outcomes will have ....Life hanging on a thread; disrupting the structure and function of lepidopteran silking behaviour. The production and use of silk by many invertebrates is vital for their survival. We develop a means of visualising and understanding the role of silking behaviour as a survival mechanism for Helicoverpa larvae (a key world-wide pest) with a view to disrupting silking. This novel project allows us to understand not just where larvae go but what they do along the way. The project outcomes will have wide application to the study and control of lepidopteran pests in natural and agricultural ecosystems and is of interest to applied and fundamental projects associated with insect pest control, behaviour and ecology.Read moreRead less
The dynamics of organic matter turnover in soils to improve the productivity of Australia's agricultural industries. Two recent national reports on the soils issues facing Australian agriculture (Reeves et al, 1997; CSIRO, 2000) concluded that soil structural degradation remains, after salinisation, our major threat to the sustainability of agricultural production. This research will provide fundamental understanding of how the dynamics of organic matter turnover benefit aggregate formation and ....The dynamics of organic matter turnover in soils to improve the productivity of Australia's agricultural industries. Two recent national reports on the soils issues facing Australian agriculture (Reeves et al, 1997; CSIRO, 2000) concluded that soil structural degradation remains, after salinisation, our major threat to the sustainability of agricultural production. This research will provide fundamental understanding of how the dynamics of organic matter turnover benefit aggregate formation and stability. This will advance the understanding of organic matter from simply considering the quantity of carbon present, to one of predicting the short- and long-term benefits to soil structure. This approach is innovative in the study of soil health, and has the potential to greatly advance the development of conservation farming systems.Read moreRead less
Australian native plant species as models for understanding the regulation and roles of betalain pigment synthesis. This project will have triple bottom line benefits. Economic: new cultivars developed from understanding betalains will sell worldwide, generating returns, incomes and employment in urban, peri-urban and rural Australia. Social: Novel Ptilotus and Calandrinia cultivars will adorn parks and gardens around Australia, thereby enhancing quality of life. Environmental: Ptilotus and Cala ....Australian native plant species as models for understanding the regulation and roles of betalain pigment synthesis. This project will have triple bottom line benefits. Economic: new cultivars developed from understanding betalains will sell worldwide, generating returns, incomes and employment in urban, peri-urban and rural Australia. Social: Novel Ptilotus and Calandrinia cultivars will adorn parks and gardens around Australia, thereby enhancing quality of life. Environmental: Ptilotus and Calandrinia are inherently drought resistant. Novel ornamental cultivars will have high water use efficiency and contribute to water conservation in urban Australia in the face of drought and global warming. Moreover, understanding their synthesis and roles could yield new strategies for enhancing stress tolerance in other species, including crop plants.Read moreRead less