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David Waters

PhD Student
School School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences
Location Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
Phone 02 6938 1991
Fax 02 6938 1809
Email david.waters@industry.nsw.gov.au

 

Project

The Impact of Biochar on dryland broadacre cropping

Summary

The survival of Australian Agriculture is threatened by unsustainable management practices (such as loss of soil fertility due to over cultivation or product removal), long term reductions in farmers' terms of trade (partially due to the rising costs of inputs), and the uncertainty created by greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Organic soil carbon amendments could be a vital tool utilised by farmers to mitigate these changes. Biochar is a by-product of slow heat pyrolysis, and is increasingly viewed as a stable, carbon-based soil conditioner. Recent research has shown the potential of Biochar for enhancing agronomic fertility, as well as the possibility of sequestering soil carbon. Results from previous Biochar trials have indicated increases in potential soil CEC resulting in lower nutrient leaching, increased soil microbial activity, improved soil structure and greater retention of soil carbon. A unique combination of soil type and climate are contributing factors of the South-eastern dryland cropping zone, and the above threats to the historical capacity of this region to produce a significant proportion of Australia's food will require innovative changes in farm management to enhance industry sustainability. The successful application of organic soil amendments such as Biochar in a broadacre cropping context could have long term beneficial effects on soil productivity, as well as carbon sequestration potential. Previous literature has suggested that the source of material used in producing the Biochar can alter its chemical properties. Therefore different biochars, when combined with fertilisers, could have varying effects on soil productivity and resulting plant yields. Similarly, the increasing scarcity of supply (and therefore the rising cost) of inorganic fertilisers, as well as a greater community perception of the effects of a carbon footprint, are encouraging the trial of organic alternatives. My PhD will focus on the underlying mechanisms of nutrient retention by analysis of the potential cation exchange capacity of the soil. This will involve the determination of the charge density of the biochar particle, as well as its interaction with other organic matter groups in the soil. The impacts of Biochar on plant growth, including yields, biomass and root length, will also be quantified.

Supervisors

Dr Jason Condon, Dr Yin Chan, Dr Lukas Van Zweiten, Dr Sergio Moroni

Funding source

GRDC Postgraduate Research Scholarship, FFI CRC top up