Dr Murray Unkovich

Dr Murray Unkovich

  • Biography/ Background

    Murray has a BSc in Biology (Murd.) and MSc and PhD in Botany (UWA).

    My current work is focussed on soil condiitons and plant growth, particularly high soil strength, and on biological nitrogen fixation. My research careerinitially focussed on the application of stable isotope techniques to study biological processes and the functioning of ecosystems. I worked for the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (1991-1998), contributed to the National Land and Water Resources Audit, and the National Sate of the Environment Reports, and worked with the Departments of Primary Industries (Victoria and South Australia). I was also involved in developing the national environmental guidelines for reclaimed water use in agriculture and for almost 10 years, developing the National Carbon Accounting System (NCAS) for agriculture. I have worked on agricultural development in China, India and Papua New Guinea.

    Keywords: N2-fixation, legumes, farming systems, soil strength, ecosystem function, nutrient cycling, carbon accounting, carbon sequestration, agriculture, soil carbon, reclaimed water irrigation, modeling.

    Selected Publications:

    Unkovich, M., T. McBeath, et al. (2023). "High soil strength and cereal crop responses to deeper tillage on sandy soils in a semi-arid environment." Field Crops Research 291: 108792.

    Unkovich, M., D. McKenzie and W. Parker (2023). "New insights into high soil strength and crop plants; implications for grain crop production in the Australian environment." Plant and Soil 486: 183-208.
       
    Manickam, R., D. P. Kaur, et al. (2022). "Diversifying vegetable production systems for improving the livelihood of resource poor farmers on the East Indian Plateau." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems submitted July 2022.

    Cafaro La Menza, N., J. P. Monzon, Lindquist, J, Arkebauer, TJ, Knops, JMH, Unkovich, MJ, Specht, J E, Grassini, P (2020). "Insufficient nitrogen supply from symbiotic fixation reduces seasonal crop growth and nitrogen mobilization to seed in highly productive soybean crops." Plant, Cell & Environment 43(8): 1958-1972.    Unkovich, M., D. Herridge, et al. (2020). "Reliable quantification of N2 fixation by non-legumes remains problematic." Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 118: 223-225.

    Unkovich, M., J. Baldock and R. Farquharson (2018). "Field measurements of bare soil evaporation and crop transpiration, and transpiration efficiency, for rainfed grain crops in Australia – A review." Agricultural Water Management 205: 72-80.

    Peoples, M. B., P. M. Chalk, Unkovich, M & Boddey, R (2015). "Can differences in 15N natural abundance be used to quantify the transfer of nitrogen from legumes to neighbouring non-legume plant species?" Soil Biology and Biochemistry 87: 87-109.

    Chalk P, Peoples M, McNeill A, Boddey R, Unkovich M, Gardener M, Silva C, Chen D (2014) Methodologies for estimating nitrogen transfer between legumes and companion species in agro-ecosystems: A review of 15N-enriched techniques. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 73, 10-21.

    Peoples MB, Chalk PM, Unkovich MJ, Boddey RM (2015) Can differences in 15N natural abundance be used to quantify the transfer of nitrogen from legumes to neighbouring non-legume plant species? Soil Biology and Biochemistry 87, 87-109.

    Unkovich M (2013) Isotope fractionation provides new insight into biological nitrogen fixation. New Phytologist 198, 643-646.

    Unkovich M (2012) Nitrogen fixation in Australian dairy systems; review and prospect. Crop and Pasture Science 63, 787-804. [PDF below]

    Herr A, O'Connell D, Dunlop M, Unkovich M, Poulton P, Poole M (2012) Second harvest - Is there sufficient stubble for biofuel production in Australia? Global Change Biology, Bioenergy 4, 654-660.

    Yang H, Unkovich MJ, McNeill AM, Wang X (2011) Symbiotic N2 fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (Medicago sativa) systems. Biology and Fertility of Soils 47, 377-385.

     

    Paltridge S, Grover S, Gouyi L, Tao J, Unkovich M, Tashi N, Coventry D (2011) Soils, crop nutrient status and nutrient dynamics on small-holder farms in central Tibet, China. Plant & Soil 348, 219-229.

    Kirkegaard J, Angus J, Peoples M, Unkovich M (2011) Diversity and evolution of rainfed farming systems of southern Australia. In 'Rainfed farming systems'. (Eds P Tow, I Cooper, I Partridge, C Birch). (Springer)

    Yang H, Unkovich MJ, M MA, Wang X (2011) Symbiotic N2 fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (Medicago sativa) systems. Biology and Fertility of Soils 47, 377-385.

    Unkovich M, Baldock J, Peoples, M (2010) Prospects and problems of simple linear models for estimating symbiotic N2 fixation by crop and pasture legumes. Plant and Soil 329;75-89.

    Unkovich M, Baldock J, Forbes, M (2010) Variability in harvest index of grain crops and potential significance for carbon accounting in Australian agriculture. Advances in Agronomy, 105,173-219.

    Paltridge,N,  Tao, J, Unkovich, MJ, Bonamano, A, Gason, A, Grover, S, Wilkins, J, Tashi, N and Coventry, D (2009) Agriculture in central Tibet: an assessment of climate, farming systems and strategies to boost production. Crop and Pasture Science 60, 627-639.

    Unkovich, MJ, Baldock J, Marvanek S (2009) Which broadacre crops and pastures should be included in a carbon accounting system for Australia's cropping zone? Crop and Pasture Science 60, 617-626

    Shen Y, Li L, Chen W, Robertson M, Unkovich, MJ, Bellotti W, Probert M (2009) Soil water, soil nitrogen and productivity of lucerne–wheat sequences on deep silt loams in a summer-dominant rainfall environment. Field Crops Research, 111, 97-108.

    Unkovich M and Baldock J (2008) Measurement of asymbiotic N2 fixation in Australian agriculture. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 40, 2915-2921.

    Unkovich, M J and Nan, Z (2008). "Problems and prospects of grassland ecosystems in western China." Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 124: 1-2.

    Unkovich, M., Herridge, D.F., Peoples, M.B., Boddey, R.M., Cadisch, G., Giller, K., Alves, B., Chalk, P.M. (2008). Measuring plant-associated nitrogen fixation in agricultural systems. ACIAR Monograph No.136. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, 258 pp

    Huang, G B, Zhang, R Z, Li, G D, Li, L L, Chan, K Y, Heenan, D P, Chen, W, Unkovich, M J, Robertson, M J, Cullis, B R and Bellotti, W D (2008). "Productivity and sustainability of a spring wheat-field pea rotation in a semi-arid environment under conventional and conservation tillage systems." Field Crops Research 107(1): 43-55.

    Nolan, S, Unkovich, M J, Shen, Y, Li, L and Bellotti, W (2008). "Farming systems of the Loess Plateau, Gansu Province, China." Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 124: 13-23.

    Unkovich, M J (2007). Wildlife Australia. Sydney, New Holland Australia.

    McNeill, A M and Unkovich, M  (2007). The nitrogen cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. Nutrient Cycling in Terrestrial Ecosystems. P. Marschner and Z. Rengel (Ed). Amsterdam, Springer Verlag: 37-64.

    Kelly, J, Unkovich, M J and Stevens, D P (2006). Crop nutrition considerations in reclaimed water irrigation systems. Growing Crops with Reclaimed Wastewater. D. P. Stevens (Ed). Melbourne, CSIRO: 91-105.

    Unkovich, M J, Kelly, J and Stevens, D P (2006). Managing risks to plant health from salinity, sodium, chloride and boron in reclaimed waters. Growing Crops with Reclaimed Wastewater. D. P. Stevens (Ed). Melbourne, CSIRO: 147-158.

     

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Entry last updated: Wednesday, 31 Jan 2024