Contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the processes, kinetics and impacts to water quality of contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. Extreme concentrations of highly reactive sulfides are forming in the surface sediments of floodplain drains, wetlands and agricultural soils. The newly forming sulfides are linked to severe oxygen depletion and acidification of coastal rivers a ....Contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the processes, kinetics and impacts to water quality of contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. Extreme concentrations of highly reactive sulfides are forming in the surface sediments of floodplain drains, wetlands and agricultural soils. The newly forming sulfides are linked to severe oxygen depletion and acidification of coastal rivers and the complete failure of floodplain vegetation, leaving soils susceptible to erosion. The proposed study will greatly advance our understanding of how our precious coastal floodplain soil and water resources are being degraded, and will guide better land management.
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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
Unraveling the oxidative geochemistry of nanoparticulate mackinawite in acid sulfate soil landscapes. Acid sulfate soils impact over 8 million ha of valuable coastal land in Australia, and over 24 million ha throughout the world. Drainage from acid sulfate soil waterways is a major threat to water quality, ecosystem health, agricultural sustainability and fisheries productivity. The practical benefits of this project arise from an improved understanding of the processes controlling water qualit ....Unraveling the oxidative geochemistry of nanoparticulate mackinawite in acid sulfate soil landscapes. Acid sulfate soils impact over 8 million ha of valuable coastal land in Australia, and over 24 million ha throughout the world. Drainage from acid sulfate soil waterways is a major threat to water quality, ecosystem health, agricultural sustainability and fisheries productivity. The practical benefits of this project arise from an improved understanding of the processes controlling water quality and associated resources in these areas. The intellectual benefits include the development of novel geochemical concepts involving sulfur minerals that are central to coastal rivers, wetlands and estuaries. This project will enhance Australia's capacity for sustainable environmental management.Read moreRead less
Hydraulic Properties of Swelling Clay-Gel Soils: Electrolyte and Temperature Effects. We seek to understand the impacts of electrolytes and temperature on the equilibrium and water flow properties of swelling, clay-gel soils. These soils are important in cropping, the environment and industrial processes. Their hydraulic properties govern dewatering rates, rheology, and solute movement. Double layer theory (DLVO) successfully describes the equilibrium behaviour of model, parallel-plate clay syst ....Hydraulic Properties of Swelling Clay-Gel Soils: Electrolyte and Temperature Effects. We seek to understand the impacts of electrolytes and temperature on the equilibrium and water flow properties of swelling, clay-gel soils. These soils are important in cropping, the environment and industrial processes. Their hydraulic properties govern dewatering rates, rheology, and solute movement. Double layer theory (DLVO) successfully describes the equilibrium behaviour of model, parallel-plate clay systems in laboratories. However, equilibrium and water transport properties of less-ideal, clay slurries are poorly described by theory. Field clay-gels are therefore problematic. Outcomes will be better understanding of swelling clays, improved and more cost effective management techniques for gel soils and trained graduates.Read moreRead less
Schwertmannite in acid sulfate soil landscapes: iron cycling induced acidification. Acid sulfate soils impact over 24 million ha of land throughout the world, 4 million ha of valuable coastal land in Australia alone. Their oxidation and acidification are the cause of catastrophic declines in water quality, aquatic habitat, agricultural productivity and urban infrastructure. The practical benefits of this project arise from an improved understanding of the processes controlling acidification a ....Schwertmannite in acid sulfate soil landscapes: iron cycling induced acidification. Acid sulfate soils impact over 24 million ha of land throughout the world, 4 million ha of valuable coastal land in Australia alone. Their oxidation and acidification are the cause of catastrophic declines in water quality, aquatic habitat, agricultural productivity and urban infrastructure. The practical benefits of this project arise from an improved understanding of the processes controlling acidification and water quality in these areas. Intellectual benefits include the development and application of novel geochemical concepts involving iron minerals relevant to acidity impacted coastal rivers, wetlands and estuaries; this project will enhance Australia's capacity for sustainable environmental management.Read moreRead less