Archive for May, 2009

Soil Scientist at DPI’s Tamworth Agricultural Institute, Dr Graeme Schwenke (above) will lead a research project to investigate options for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from cropping soils in North-West NSW. The project will receive $400,000 in funding from GRDC. Use of fertiliser N in the agricultural sector accounts for 32% of N2O emissions or 5.2 Mt CO2-e per year. Of the 1 million tonnes of fertiliser N used annually in this sector, approximately 70% is applied to cereals. Graeme’s project proposes to mitigate emissions in cereal production systems of the North-West slopes and plains, through (i) partial substitution of fertiliser N inputs with biologically-fixed legume N, (ii) increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) through strategic location of crop rows in relation to N fertiliser and prior crop residues using precision guidance technology, and (iii) modelling and development of effective extension packages for farmers. We also aim to develop real-world multiplier factors to replace IPCC default values used in calculating GHG emissions from fertiliser and legume use.

The experimental strategies will result in reduced inputs of fertiliser N, with direct consequences for both on-farm and off-farm emissions, as well as economic benefits for farmers through reduced input costs and more efficient production systems. The cost of fertiliser N to farmers more than doubled in 2008. Graeme aims to model project outcomes and develop effective management tools that farmers can use at the paddock level to mitigate their emissions whilst maintaining farm productivity.

Nazma Begum (above), husband Md Khaled Nasimul Bari and son Ahnaf Intesar Bari arrived at UNE in March. Nazma’s project title is “Impact of pulse legumes on nitrous oxide emissions and cereal row placement on N recovery”. Her supervisors are Dr Chris Guppy, Agronomy and Soil Science UNE and Dr Graeme Schwenke, NSW DPI Tamworth Agricultural Institute.

Nazma holds a Master of Science degree in Nematology from the University of Gent, Belgium. The title of her thesis was “Activation of transcription during hatching of Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida after exposure to potato root diffusates from plants of different ages”. Nazma also has a Master of Science degree in International Horticulture from the University of Hanover. The title of her thesis was: “Genotypic differences in nitrogen use efficiency in maize (Zea mays) in relation to leaf senescence”.

Nazma is located in the Agronomy and Soil Science Building and can be contacted by phone on 6773 3963 and email on nbegum2@une.edu.au.

Kenyan forestry researcher, Christine Kainyu arrived at UNE with husband Martin and their young daughter Michelle in early March 2009.  She will join the PIIC Soil Carbon Research Group.  Christine’s research program is supported by a Ford Foundation international fellowship. Her PhD studies will involve modelling the impact of on-farm management practices and land-use changes, on Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) sequestration.  She intends to make use reflectance technology, remote sensing and GIS software in her studies.

Christine has been a Research Scientist (Soils) at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute since 2004.  She has also carried out private consultancies to farm forestry projects, large scale private farms and for biofuel production on mining reserve land in rehabilitated quarries and on-farm soil diagnostic studies.

In addition to her extensive experience in forestry, Christine has worked with cropping systems, the subject of her Mphil thesis was ‘The influence of ‘MBILI’ and conventional (maize-legume) intercropping systems on nutrient uptake, yield and rooting characteristics of intercrops in Western Kenya’.  Her BSc dissertation was on ‘Responses of Crotolaria grahamiana, Tephrosia vogelii and beans to direct application of Minjingu Rock Phosphate for improved and sustained production in Western Kenya’.

No time was wasted in Christine’s introduction to on-farm soil carbon management. Within a week of her arrival at UNE, she travelled to Coonamble with Heiko Daniel and Bob Martin to a farmer field day on Ray and Anne William’s property ‘Magomadine’.  Anne, also a PIIC post graduate student, is studying ‘Biological indicators and potential amendments to improve soil health, crop productivity and profitability for cropping soils in central western NSW’.

Christine’s PhD supervisors will be Professor Heiko Daniel and Dr. Peter Lockwood from UNE,  and Dr. Brian Wilson from DECC.  She is located in the Agronomy and Soil Science Building and can be contacted by phone on 6773 3963 and email on cwalela@une.edu.au.