Role of stubble management in improving soil fertility. In highly-weathered nutrient-poor soils of the south-western Australia, the amount of nutrients in stubble is critical in nutrient cycling as well as in determining optimal amounts of fertilisers to be applied. Stubble management is therefore an integral part of crop fertilisation and nutrient management. We will characterise nutrient cycling in the stubble-soil-crop continuum in a range of cropping situations. Computer modelling will be us ....Role of stubble management in improving soil fertility. In highly-weathered nutrient-poor soils of the south-western Australia, the amount of nutrients in stubble is critical in nutrient cycling as well as in determining optimal amounts of fertilisers to be applied. Stubble management is therefore an integral part of crop fertilisation and nutrient management. We will characterise nutrient cycling in the stubble-soil-crop continuum in a range of cropping situations. Computer modelling will be used to extend applicability of results over space and time. This project will provide the knowledge required for improving fertiliser recommendations to take into account changes in the cropping systems that have occurred in the last 10-20 years.Read moreRead less
Integrating microbiology and climatic drivers to determine triggers for nitrous oxide emissions from arable soils in semi-arid Western Australia. Increasing nitrous oxide emissions from soil to the atmosphere are a concern as they contribute to global warming and the destruction of the ozone layer. While 70-81% of this increase has been attributed globally to agricultural soils, the factors controlling emissions from arable soils in southern Australia are not well understood. We aim to charact ....Integrating microbiology and climatic drivers to determine triggers for nitrous oxide emissions from arable soils in semi-arid Western Australia. Increasing nitrous oxide emissions from soil to the atmosphere are a concern as they contribute to global warming and the destruction of the ozone layer. While 70-81% of this increase has been attributed globally to agricultural soils, the factors controlling emissions from arable soils in southern Australia are not well understood. We aim to characterise and model the relationship between the soil microbial community responsible for nitrous oxide emissions and soil water availability. Understanding the processes responsible for nitrous oxide emissions will enable us to change the way we manage our semi-arid soils so as to minimise nitrous oxide emissions.Read moreRead less