Science, Technology and Engineering

Environmental Geoscience

Research Programs

Collaborative Research: Soil Science

The increasing demand for land management to sustain food production has highlighted the need for better understanding of the environmental effects of agricultural land use. Research opportunities have opened up linking the disciplines of environmental geoscience and agricultural science to encourage a better understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes which connect these two areas of study.

Soil degradation due to salinisation, acidification or contamination leads to a reduction in productivity in agricultural settings, and can lead to the destruction of delicate ecosystem in natural settings. Acid sulphate soils are an ever increasing problem in our towns and cities as urban and agricultural development have led to acidification and sulphate contamination of the land. Environmental issues such as these are important to consider in an ever-developing society needing to manage population increase and urban sprawl to ensure a sustainable future.

Research areas offered at honours and postgraduate level include:

• Management and remediation of areas affected by acid soils
• Agricultural land degradation caused by salinisation, subsoil constraints and/or soil contamination
• Understanding and managing contaminated soils in urban settings
• Phyto-remediation of acidified and/or heavy metal contaminated soils

Recent Honours Projects

H Dannatt (2008) The influence of salinity on phytoextraction of heavy metals from biosolid.

A Monsant (2006) Impact of nitrogen form on phytoremediation of zinc in heavy metal contaminated soils (with Prof Alan Baker, University of Melbourne).

B Sassan (2005) Responses of lupin species to dual stresses of phosphorus deficiency and aluminium toxicity (with Tony Gendall, Botany).

N Dodgshon (2005) Amelioration of subsoil sodicity using organic matter.

M Stephenson (2005) Evaluating persistence of new acid soil tolerant phalaris varieties and the profitability of phararis.

N Thornton (2004) Microbially-mediated acidulation of sodic soil irrigated with waster water.

M Dyer (2004) Effects of salinity and waterlogging on nodulation of Melilotus alba L.

Katheryn Lee (2003): Productive pasture system for saline soils.

Recent PhD Projects

Weligama Chandrakumara (2006-) Impact of nitrogen form and application method on amelioration of subsoil acidity.

Gary Clark (2004-) Mechanisms of subsoil amelioration (with Peter Sale).

Mark Sargeant (2004-) Sustainability and productivity of Distichlis forage on saline soils (with Peter Sale).

For further information contact:

Associate Professor Caixian Tang

Department of Agricultural Science