An integrated investigation of nutrient generation and delivery processes and pathways from paddock to small catchment scales. Improving water quality, primarily through reducing nutrient concentrations, remains a massive challenge for effective catchment management in Australia. Through a multidisciplinary approach including soil science, hydrology and aquatic chemistry, this project will develop an integrated catchment system understanding of water quality behaviour. This understanding will ....An integrated investigation of nutrient generation and delivery processes and pathways from paddock to small catchment scales. Improving water quality, primarily through reducing nutrient concentrations, remains a massive challenge for effective catchment management in Australia. Through a multidisciplinary approach including soil science, hydrology and aquatic chemistry, this project will develop an integrated catchment system understanding of water quality behaviour. This understanding will greatly improve the scientific underpinning of catchment water quality management and prediction, thus supporting improvements in the sustainability of Australia's water management. The work will focus on catchments with high intensity livestock grazing, which tend to be located in high rainfall areas near coasts where significant issues of water quality management exist.Read moreRead less
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
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354511
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Soil Acidification, the Environment and Production. Soil acidification affects 50% of Australia's agricultural land and is the most important economic constraint to agricultural. In addition, major external offsite impacts include greenhouse gas emissions, reduced stream and ground water health, reduced biodiversity, increased salinity and waterlogging and infrastructure damage. The aim of this network is to quantify the acidification processes and the connection of these processes to the offsit ....Soil Acidification, the Environment and Production. Soil acidification affects 50% of Australia's agricultural land and is the most important economic constraint to agricultural. In addition, major external offsite impacts include greenhouse gas emissions, reduced stream and ground water health, reduced biodiversity, increased salinity and waterlogging and infrastructure damage. The aim of this network is to quantify the acidification processes and the connection of these processes to the offsite impacts. This will lead to development of strategic plans for acidified and potential acid soils and associate offsite impacts, as well as identifying knowledge gaps and building research and policy synergies. Read moreRead less
The biogeochemical cycles of Ni and Co, a functional approach to ecological restoration of lateritic soils. Nickel is an essential metal for many technologies, and a key component of Australia's resource industry. Nickel exports contribute in excess of Aus$2 billion per annum to the economy. To date, most of Australia's Ni production has come from sulphide ores but the current development of large lateritic Ni operations in Western Australia will result in most production coming from lateritic N ....The biogeochemical cycles of Ni and Co, a functional approach to ecological restoration of lateritic soils. Nickel is an essential metal for many technologies, and a key component of Australia's resource industry. Nickel exports contribute in excess of Aus$2 billion per annum to the economy. To date, most of Australia's Ni production has come from sulphide ores but the current development of large lateritic Ni operations in Western Australia will result in most production coming from lateritic Ni ore. Hence increasing the research effort on ecological restoration of these large opencast mines is essential to ensure an environmentally sustainable Australia. This project will set up strategies to maintain biodiversity using geochemical and biological technologies to minimise environmental risk.Read moreRead less
Fate of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water repellent soil. The fate of endocrine system disrupting chemicals in soils has not been studied, even though some have been linked to human health effects. Many are found in municipal sewage wastes. This project will measure chemical concentrations in water repellent forest plantation soils irrigated with municipal wastewater. The outcome will be data specifically addressing (1) the risks when forest plantations are irrigated with municipal wastewa ....Fate of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water repellent soil. The fate of endocrine system disrupting chemicals in soils has not been studied, even though some have been linked to human health effects. Many are found in municipal sewage wastes. This project will measure chemical concentrations in water repellent forest plantation soils irrigated with municipal wastewater. The outcome will be data specifically addressing (1) the risks when forest plantations are irrigated with municipal wastewater in Victoria and, by extension applicable to other Australian ecosystems, (2) Environment Australia's stated need for information directly applicable to ecosystem and human health risk assessment of the environmental risks posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals.Read moreRead less
Enhanced efficiency fertilisers for agricultural sustainability and environmental quality. Expected benefits will come from reduced environmental impact and improved profitability of farming. These include: demonstrably reduced emissions of nitrogen gases (nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas), nitric oxide (ozone active), and ammonia (a pollutant and secondary greenhouse gas); less nitrate leaching, soil acidification and nitrogen contamination of water resources; increased flexibility in timing and ....Enhanced efficiency fertilisers for agricultural sustainability and environmental quality. Expected benefits will come from reduced environmental impact and improved profitability of farming. These include: demonstrably reduced emissions of nitrogen gases (nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas), nitric oxide (ozone active), and ammonia (a pollutant and secondary greenhouse gas); less nitrate leaching, soil acidification and nitrogen contamination of water resources; increased flexibility in timing and method of fertiliser application; reduced requirement for nitrogen fertiliser, and; helping farmers adapt to future climatic and elevated CO2 conditions. These outcomes will significantly improve and help protect the future financial and environmental conditions of rural Australia, and improve our national greenhouse account. Read moreRead less
The geomicrobiology and (bio)geochemistry of platinum, palladium and rhodium. Few economic (Platinum) Pt, (Palladium) Pd or (Rhodium) Rh deposits are known in Australia despite an abundance of potential host rock. By improving onshore exploration techniques this project will ensure the supply of these strategic metals to the Australian economy. By integrating geochemical, molecular microbial and microanalyses (e.g., synchrotron) techniques this project will also: (i) enhance Australia's status i ....The geomicrobiology and (bio)geochemistry of platinum, palladium and rhodium. Few economic (Platinum) Pt, (Palladium) Pd or (Rhodium) Rh deposits are known in Australia despite an abundance of potential host rock. By improving onshore exploration techniques this project will ensure the supply of these strategic metals to the Australian economy. By integrating geochemical, molecular microbial and microanalyses (e.g., synchrotron) techniques this project will also: (i) enhance Australia's status in the breakthrough science of Geomicrobiology; (ii) secure a leading role for Australian science in the assessment of anthropogenic Pt, Pd and Rh pollution; (iii) access expertise developed overseas by fostering international collaborations; and (iv) explore the transformational capabilities of microbiota for ore-processing of and nano-particle production.Read moreRead less
Role of organic matter in soil pH change in agro-ecosystems. Over 50 million hectares of arable lands in Australia are affected by soil acidity. Acidity-affected lands continue to expand due to the ongoing process of acidification under current farming practices. The project will provide new knowledge essential for the improved use and management of organic matter to minimize or reverse soil acidification and increase carbon sequestration in farming systems. The associated reduction of soil aci ....Role of organic matter in soil pH change in agro-ecosystems. Over 50 million hectares of arable lands in Australia are affected by soil acidity. Acidity-affected lands continue to expand due to the ongoing process of acidification under current farming practices. The project will provide new knowledge essential for the improved use and management of organic matter to minimize or reverse soil acidification and increase carbon sequestration in farming systems. The associated reduction of soil acidification will also minimise the negative impact of nutrient and water losses on the environment. Growers will benefit from the project through improved soil fertility and crop production, and sustainable land use. Read moreRead less
Managing subsoil constraints for increased productivity and water use efficiency. Subsoil constraints limit crop production in up to 60% of agricultural land. This project examines the impacts of organic matter incoporation, deep placement of nutrients, use of primer crops, calcium addition and their combination on amelioration of subsoil constraints and thereby on the improvement of root growth, water use and crop yield in high-rainfall region. The best-bet management strategy will be developed ....Managing subsoil constraints for increased productivity and water use efficiency. Subsoil constraints limit crop production in up to 60% of agricultural land. This project examines the impacts of organic matter incoporation, deep placement of nutrients, use of primer crops, calcium addition and their combination on amelioration of subsoil constraints and thereby on the improvement of root growth, water use and crop yield in high-rainfall region. The best-bet management strategy will be developed.Read moreRead less
Novel approaches to ecologically sustainable and safe rehabilitation of gold mine tailings. Gold is a major export commodity for Australia and the gold mining industry provides employment and infrastructure for rural Australian communities. However, gold is often found in arsenopyrite rich ore bodies which, after the extraction process, have the potential to release toxic quantities of arsenic into the environment. The University of Melbourne, Stawell Gold Mines P/L. and Native Seeds P/L. are co ....Novel approaches to ecologically sustainable and safe rehabilitation of gold mine tailings. Gold is a major export commodity for Australia and the gold mining industry provides employment and infrastructure for rural Australian communities. However, gold is often found in arsenopyrite rich ore bodies which, after the extraction process, have the potential to release toxic quantities of arsenic into the environment. The University of Melbourne, Stawell Gold Mines P/L. and Native Seeds P/L. are collaborating to ensure the rehabilitation of arseniferous wastes is environmentally safe and sustainable. Research will investigate the selection of plant species, factors affecting plant survival, plant uptake of arsenic and prevention of excess movement of arsenic into the food-chain.Read moreRead less