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
Use of Distichlis spicata for sustainable forage production on saline land to manage dryland salinity. Sustainable and productive use of salt-affected lands is a priority for many farmers. This project aims to develop management strategies that optimise yield, water use and nutritive value of Distichlis spicata (a salt-tolerant grass) forage on salinised lands, and to understand how this forage species affects the salt cycle, water use and fertility improvement of saline soils.
MoistureMap: A soil moisture monitoring, prediction and reporting system for sustainable land and water management. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal variation of surface and root zone soil moisture content is critical to environmental sustainability and risk adverse farm management. A paddock scale soil moisture prediction tool will allow i) grain growers to make informed decisions of what to plant and when, based on likely germination rates and crop yield, ii) graziers to be proactive rega ....MoistureMap: A soil moisture monitoring, prediction and reporting system for sustainable land and water management. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal variation of surface and root zone soil moisture content is critical to environmental sustainability and risk adverse farm management. A paddock scale soil moisture prediction tool will allow i) grain growers to make informed decisions of what to plant and when, based on likely germination rates and crop yield, ii) graziers to be proactive regarding management of stocking rates based on likely pasture growth, and iii) better weather and climate prediction skill. At regional scales moisture information can be used to support claims of drought exceptional circumstances.Read moreRead less
Novel, Cost-Effective Methods for Measuring Methane Emissions from Grazing Livestock. Agriculture is second only to energy generation as a source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Methane from cattle and sheep constitute 60% of these agricultural emissions. Their abatement is a win-win goal for the agricultural industry, reducing greenhouse emissions while increasing food efficiency. This project will develop a novel, cost- and-labour efficient method for on-farm measurements of the emis ....Novel, Cost-Effective Methods for Measuring Methane Emissions from Grazing Livestock. Agriculture is second only to energy generation as a source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Methane from cattle and sheep constitute 60% of these agricultural emissions. Their abatement is a win-win goal for the agricultural industry, reducing greenhouse emissions while increasing food efficiency. This project will develop a novel, cost- and-labour efficient method for on-farm measurements of the emissions of methane from free-grazing cattle and sheep in their undisturbed environment. The method will be used to assess the dependence of methane emissions on factors such as diet and the efficacy of proposed methods for abatement of methane emissions, as well as providing improved data to the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory.Read moreRead less
Molecular, physiological and environmental regulation of toxic prussic acid levels (cyanogenesis) in forage sorghum. Forage sorghum is grown widely in dry, tropical areas of Australia. The leaves contain dhurrin, a natural defence product that liberates prussic acid (cyanide) when leaf tissue is disrupted (eg when chewed). The problem is that young plants or those experiencing drought are highly toxic, resulting in financial loss through reduced nutritive value, livestock loss and wasted feed. U ....Molecular, physiological and environmental regulation of toxic prussic acid levels (cyanogenesis) in forage sorghum. Forage sorghum is grown widely in dry, tropical areas of Australia. The leaves contain dhurrin, a natural defence product that liberates prussic acid (cyanide) when leaf tissue is disrupted (eg when chewed). The problem is that young plants or those experiencing drought are highly toxic, resulting in financial loss through reduced nutritive value, livestock loss and wasted feed. Using new, non-GM technology we will identify novel genetically altered sorghum lines with negligible prussic acid. Lines with enhanced levels could be used as soil biofumigants. Breeders can use this germplasm to develop varieties tailored for increasingly dry Australian conditions. The new varieties with controlled dhurrin content will be suitable for export.Read moreRead less
Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants. The world population is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate, with a concomitant requirement to double the food production from the same amount of arable land. To ensure global political and social stability, equitably increasing sustainable food production without compromising environmental integrity remains a major challenge. This proposal investigates the molecular mechanis ....Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants. The world population is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate, with a concomitant requirement to double the food production from the same amount of arable land. To ensure global political and social stability, equitably increasing sustainable food production without compromising environmental integrity remains a major challenge. This proposal investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying male germ line initiation and development in plants. Switching off male gamete development in some crop plants will create male sterile lines, which, when crossed with genetically distinct lines, will have the potential to produce hybrids that yield 20-30 percent more crop without additional inputs. Read moreRead less
Epigenetic programming of plant sperm cells. Most of the grains and seeds that form the world's food supply are the result of the successful functioning of sperm and egg cells during fertilisation. This proposal aims to investigate the nature of sperm cell genome programming in plants and unravel molecular processes that give these cells their unique identity. This innovative and challenging research will also provide an excellent opportunity for training the next generation of scientists. The o ....Epigenetic programming of plant sperm cells. Most of the grains and seeds that form the world's food supply are the result of the successful functioning of sperm and egg cells during fertilisation. This proposal aims to investigate the nature of sperm cell genome programming in plants and unravel molecular processes that give these cells their unique identity. This innovative and challenging research will also provide an excellent opportunity for training the next generation of scientists. The outcomes of this proposal will enhance Australia's international lead in this field and will pave the way toward the development of new approaches for sustaining and enhancing crop productivity under changing environmental conditions. Read moreRead less
Development of Novel Pesticidal Agents. We have discovered a family of naturally occurring plant proteins called the cyclotides that have potent insecticidal activity against Helicoverpa species, one of the major pests on cotton and corn in Australia and world wide. Preliminary evidence has shown that they also have activity against major pests to livestock in Australia, including sheep blowflies. To develop these proteins as potential pesticidal agents it is necessary to understand the struct ....Development of Novel Pesticidal Agents. We have discovered a family of naturally occurring plant proteins called the cyclotides that have potent insecticidal activity against Helicoverpa species, one of the major pests on cotton and corn in Australia and world wide. Preliminary evidence has shown that they also have activity against major pests to livestock in Australia, including sheep blowflies. To develop these proteins as potential pesticidal agents it is necessary to understand the structural basis for their activity. We will do this by chemically synthesising peptides with selected residues mutated to determine their effects on activity.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured liquid crystal particles as Next Generation agricultural bioactive delivery systems. Improving the efficiency of use of agricultural chemicals, through utilization of novel liquid crystalline carriers particles, will deliver significant environmental and economic benefits. Reduced overall usage and input of chemicals into the environment, together with lower water consumption in the treatment of crops will contribute to an Environmentally Sustainable Australia, with benefits in re ....Nanostructured liquid crystal particles as Next Generation agricultural bioactive delivery systems. Improving the efficiency of use of agricultural chemicals, through utilization of novel liquid crystalline carriers particles, will deliver significant environmental and economic benefits. Reduced overall usage and input of chemicals into the environment, together with lower water consumption in the treatment of crops will contribute to an Environmentally Sustainable Australia, with benefits in reduced salinity. More economical farming will also lead to flow on benefits to other businesses in rural communities. The project will also enhance Australia's reputation in the uptake of nanotechnologies, and in training of young scientists in the nanotechnology field.Read moreRead less
A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian ....A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian agriculture and protection of our natural resources. The current reliance for disease control on chemicals that damage the environment will be reduced and our research will contribute directly to the provision of cheaper, simpler and more effective methods of control.
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