Current Research Projects
Commercial/proprietary research projects
- Fertiliser formulation involving coating technology for better delivery of micronutrients
- Isotopic (radioactive and stable) and spectroscopic evaluations of macro- and micronutrient
- Phosphorus and sulfur nutrition
- Potash fertilisers
- Agronomy field trials
Fertiliser use efficiency in dryland cropping
A range of stable and radioisotopic methods are being used to investigate dissolution, diffusion, availability, and reaction products of phosphorus and micronutrient fertilisers in soils. These techniques are complementary and are being used to obtain a clear picture of how P and micronutrient fertilisers behave in different soils subjected to different soil water potentials and variations in potential (eg. wetting and drying cycles), and their influence on plant nutrient uptake.
Developing chemical methods to mobilise fixed nutrients in cropping soils
This project aims to increase the efficiency of use of applied fertiliser P, through improving crop access to soil P reserves, or minimising the fixation of added fertiliser nutrients. Success in achieving this outcome will be measured by the ability of crops to access a larger amont of accumulated soil P reserves, thus reducing the need for fertiliser inputs,or improvements in crop acquisition of added fertiliser P.
Improving nitrogen and phosphorus management in south-east Australian cropping systems
This project aims to increase the economic effectiveness of nutrient inputs in cropping systems of south-eastern Australia by developing an improved understanding of key factors (abiotic and biotic) regulating the supply and utilisation of nitrogen and phosphorus by crops. This information will provide the foundation for better predictions of fertiliser requirements as well as contributing to the development of management strategies designed to increase the efficiency with which nutrients are used in cropping systems.
