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.
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Building resilient alpine environments with less snow. In this project, we aim to build resilience into alpine National Parks and Alpine Resorts to counter the effects of ongoing declines in snow. Alpine environments depend on snow to regulate water flows, insulate vegetation, control soil erosion and promote proper ecosystem functioning. How these processes will operate in a snow-free future is unknown. We will determine how and where snow characteristics drive soil water availability for plant ....Building resilient alpine environments with less snow. In this project, we aim to build resilience into alpine National Parks and Alpine Resorts to counter the effects of ongoing declines in snow. Alpine environments depend on snow to regulate water flows, insulate vegetation, control soil erosion and promote proper ecosystem functioning. How these processes will operate in a snow-free future is unknown. We will determine how and where snow characteristics drive soil water availability for plants and which plant species have the best adaptation and regeneration potential under extreme conditions such as heat, frost and drought. Benefits of the project include innovative land management and rehabilitation solutions, to safeguard Australia's alpine areas under changing environmental conditions.Read moreRead less