Publications

Growth and nutrient uptake of temperate perennial pastures are influenced by grass species and fertilisation with a microbial consortium inoculant

Abstract Background: The low fertility of sandy soils in South‐Western Australia is challenging for the establishment of temperate perennial pastures. Aims: To assess whether microbial consortium inoculant may improve plant growth by increasing nutrient supply, root biomass and nutrient uptake capacity. Methods: Five temperate perennial pasture grasses–cocksfoot ( Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Howlong), phalaris ( Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Atlas PG), tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea L. cv. Prosper), tall wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum ponticum L. cv. Dundas), and veldt grass ( Ehrharta calycina Sm. cv. Mission) were tested in a controlled environment on the growth and nutrition with the microbial consortium inoculant and rock mineral fertiliser. Results: Veldt grass produced the highest shoot and root growth, while tall fescue yielded the lowest. Rock mineral fertiliser with or without microbial consortium inoculant significantly increased root and shoot biomass production across the grass species. The benefit of microbial consortium inoculation applied in conjunction with rock mineral fertiliser was significant regarding shoot N content in tall wheatgrass, cocksfoot and tall fescue. Shoot P and K concentrations also increased in the five grass species by microbial consortium inoculation combined with rock mineral fertiliser in comparison with the control treatment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation decreased with rock mineral fertilisation with or without microbial consortium inoculant except in cocksfoot. Conclusions: The response to microbial consortium inoculation, either alone or in combination with rock mineral fertiliser, was plant species‐dependent, indicating its potential use in pasture production.

Comparative proteomics analysis of genotypic variation in germination of chickpea under sub-optimal soil water content

Introduction of a leguminous shrub to a rubber plantation changed the soil carbon and nitrogen fractions and ameliorated soil environments

The conversion of monoculture rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations into rubber-based agroforestry systems has become a common trend in forestry management in the past few decades. Rubber-Flemingia macrophylla (a leguminous shrub) systems are popular in southwestern China's Xishuangbanna region. The biogeochemical cycles of soil carbon and nitrogen in forests are mainly affected by their fractions. This study investigated the effect of introducing Flemingia macrophylla to rubber plantations of different ages on soil carbon and nitrogen fractions. The experimental treatments included R1 (young rubber plantation), RF1 (young rubber-Flemingia macrophylla system), R2 (mature rubber plantation) and RF2 (mature rubber-Flemingia macrophylla system). The results showed that the introduction of Flemingia macrophylla to rubber plantations of different ages significantly changed soil carbon and nitrogen fractions, improved soil labile organic carbon and nitrogen contents, and ameliorated soil environments. The average soil microbial biomass organic carbon, nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen in the 0-10 cm soil layer during the experimental period was 38.9%, 55.5%, and 214.7% higher in RF1 than R1, respectively, and 22.1%, 22.2%, and 652.2% higher in RF2 than R2, respectively. Therefore, Flemingia macrophylla can be used as an alternative interplanted tree species within rubber plantations in similar environments of southeastern Asia.

Crop growth and relative growth rates of old and modern wheat cultivars

An analysis of the dynamics of green area index (GAI), dry matter (DM), relative growth rate (RGR) and crop growth rate (CGR) based on growing degree days (GDD) is presented for a historical series of wheats commercially released in Western Australia. Relative to the old cultivars, modern wheats were characterized by a greater RGR during the vegetative phase. This was achieved at a lower initial GAI, which persisted as the season progressed and was associated with a higher CGR at anthesis and greater grain yield at the end of the season. In the old cultivars, a greater GAI during the mid season declined rapidly as temperatures and soil moisture stress increased in spring, resulting in a lower GAI at anthesis. Together with lower CGR at anthesis this resulted in less dry matter and grain yield at final harvest. The higher grain yield of modern wheat cultivars was achieved with a high RGR during the vegetative phase and greater CGR from ear emergence to harvest.

Biochemical and Metabolic Changes in Arsenic Contaminated<i>Boehmeria nivea</i>L.

Arsenic (As) is identified by the EPA as the third highest toxic inorganic contaminant. Almost every 9th or 10th human in more than 70 countries including mainland China is affected by As. Arsenic along with other toxins not only affects human life but also creates alarming situations such as the deterioration of farm lands and desertion of industrial/mining lands. Researchers and administrators have agreed to opt for phytoremediation of As over costly cleanups. Boehmeria nivea L. can soak up various heavy metals, such as Sb, Cd, Pb, and Zn. But the effect of As pollution on the biology and metabolism of B. nivea has been somewhat overlooked. This study attempts to evaluate the extent of As resistance, chlorophyll content, and metabolic changes in As-polluted (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg L(-1) As) B. nivea in hydroponics. Toxic effects of As in the form of inhibited growth were apparent at the highest level of added As. The significant changes in the chlorophyll, electrolyte leakage, and H2O2, significant increases in As in plant parts, catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA), with applied As revealed the potential of B. nivea for As decontamination. By employing the metabolic machinery of B. nivea, As was sustainably removed from the contaminated areas.

Regional-scale precision mapping of cotton suitability using UAV and satellite data in arid environments

This study addresses the critical issues of water scarcity and soil salinization impacting cotton production in South Xinjiang, China. It introduces an innovative framework for assessing regional cotton crop suitability by integrating ground-measured soil water and salt data with UAV multispectral and Sentinel-2A satellite imagery from the 2022 cotton growing season. An optimized set of vegetation indices was identified through multicollinearity analysis and full subset selection. Six advanced machine learning methods, including Random Forest (RF), were used alongside the ratio mean method to effectively upscale soil water and salt content models from the field to the regional level. A newly developed cotton suitability index was created to categorize soil water and salt conditions, resulting in detailed suitability maps for 2022 and 2023. Key findings include: (1) Model Performance : The RF model outperformed others in predicting soil water and salt content, with R² values ranging from 0.763 to 0.846 for soil moisture and 0.703–0.843 for soil salinity. It showed greater accuracy at 0–10 cm depth than 10–20 cm depth. (2) Imagery Correlation : A significant correlation was observed between UAV and Sentinel-2A imagery (R² = 0.498–0.745). Reflectivity corrections in Sentinel-2A data notably improved RF model inversion accuracy (R² gains of 0.114–0.384). (3) Suitability Analysis : The cotton suitability index maps for 2022 and 2023 indicated that most fields in Tumushuke (TMSK) were moderately suitable for cotton growth, although some areas were unsuitable. This highlights the need for additional irrigation and targeted soil water and salt management to meet cotton requirements and reduce salinity risks. Overall, this study enhances precision agriculture techniques for arid environments and provides valuable insights for managing soil salinity, supporting sustainable cotton production in challenging climates. • The optimal combination of vegetation index and reflectivity was selected. • The RF model had the highest simulation accuracy. • An up-scaling quantitative and mapping method for soil water/salt was established. • The crop suitability index was introduced to evaluate the suitability of cotton.

Registration of ‘Almaz’ Kabuli Chickpea Cultivar

‘Almaz’ kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) (Reg. no. CV- 268, PI 642852) was developed by the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) Germplasm Development Program. It is adapted to winter sowing in cropping regions of Australia with medium to high rainfall (400–700 mm annual), deep fertile soils, and mild spring conditions. It was released by CLIMA in August 2005.

Farm-level adaptations to harvest logistics constraints in export-oriented grain systems

Grain Producers in export-oriented grain systems face mounting pressure to coordinate harvest logistics under growing climatic, institutional, and infrastructure constraints. These stresses are especially acute in regions with decentralised production, long transport routes, and limited receival and labour capacity. In such settings, logistics adaptability is not just an operational concern but a critical factor shaping farmers' access to markets and overall system performance. This study investigates how Western Australian (WA) grain farmers adapt their storage, freight, and delivery strategies in response to misalignments between on-farm decision-making and centralised grain logistics infrastructure. Using an abductive, mixed-methods approach—including 48 surveys, 19 interviews, and media and policy document analysis—we explored how farm-level decisions interact with institutional asymmetries and inflexible infrastructure. The design is theoretically informed by Actor–Network Theory to trace translations, enrolment and obligatory passage points among heterogeneous human/non-human actors, and by the Actors–Resources–Activities framework to map actor bonds, resource ties and activity links across inland logistics. The findings reveal that growers rely on on-farm storage, investment in mobile freight capacity, and tactical scheduling to manage seasonal bottlenecks and limited delivery access. These strategies are shaped by market signals, spatial disparities in receival infrastructure and transport options and behavioural heuristics that help farmers navigate institutional constraints. While such adaptations provide short-term resilience, they also create inefficiencies and reinforce systemic inequities in harvest throughput, export timing, and access to price premiums. This study contributes to ongoing debates on agricultural systems resilience by linking farm-level behavioural adaptation with infrastructure governance and logistics system design. It highlights the need for modelling frameworks—such as agent-based or participatory approaches—that reflect decentralised, spatially differentiated decision-making. Implications are drawn for transport planning, cooperative infrastructure policy, and the development of future decision-support systems tailored to export-reliant agricultural regions. • Record harvests test resilience of logistics amid unprecedented conditions • Farmers use on-farm storage and mobile freight to ease bottlenecks • Mixed-methods reveal heuristics in constrained farm environments • Spatial disparities drive uneven logistics and adaptation strategies

Plastic mulching significantly improves soil enzyme and microbial activities without mitigating gaseous N emissions in winter wheat-summer maize rotations

Microbial Regulatory Mechanisms of Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation under Plastic Film Mulching and Organic Amendment Substitution Conditions

Thermal stress impacts reproductive development and grain yield in rice

Soil carbon increase with straw returning: New evidence from soil extracellular enzymes

Straw returning is an effective practice to sequester soil carbon in agricultural soils. However, the response of soil extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) to straw returning and their linkages to soil carbon pools remain poorly understood. Here, we present a global meta-analysis on the effect of straw returning on soil hydrolytic carbon-acquiring (<em>C-acq</em>) EEAs and their relationships with soil carbon pools in agricultural ecosystems. On average, straw returning increased <em>C-acq</em> EEAs by 23.2%, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content by 29.2%, and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage by 21.1%, relative to no straw returning. The effect of straw returning on MBC content and SOC storage is best explained by their positive relationships with <em>C-acq</em> EEAs: when straw returning strongly stimulates <em>C-acq</em> EEAs, MBC content and SOC storage increase; conversely, when straw returning weakly stimulates <em>C-acq</em> EEAs, MBC content and SOC storage decline. Furthermore, soil pH and straw amount best predicted the straw returning effects on <em>C-acq</em> EEAs. Our results provide the first evidence that <em>C-acq</em> EEAs are linked to soil carbon increases under straw returning in agricultural ecosystems. Incorporating the soil microbial effects of straw returning revealed here on agricultural soils into Earth system models could improve predictions of soil carbon dynamics.

Characterisation of a 4A QTL for Metribuzin Resistance in Wheat by Developing Near-Isogenic Lines

Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) production is constantly affected by weeds in the farming system. Chemical-based weed management is widely practiced; broad-spectrum herbicides such as metribuzin have been successfully used to control weeds in Australia and elsewhere of the world. Breeding metribuzin-resistant wheat through genetic improvement is needed for effective control of weeds. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping efforts identified a major QTL on wheat chromosome 4A, explaining up to 20% of the phenotypic variance for metribuzin resistance. The quantitative nature of inheritance of this QTL signifies the importance of near-isogenic lines (NILs), which can convert a quantitative trait into a Mendelian factor for better resolution of the QTL. In the current study, NILs were developed using a heterogeneous inbred family method combined with a fast generation-cycling system in a population of Chuan Mai 25 (resistant) and Ritchie (susceptible). Seven pairs of NILs targeting the 4A QTL for metribuzin resistance were confirmed with a molecular marker and phenotyping. The resistant allele from the resistant parent increased metribuzin resistance by 63-85% (average 69%) compared with the susceptible allele from the susceptible parent. Segregation analysis in the NIL pairs for thousand grain weight (TGW) (g), biomass per plant (kg), tillers per plant, plant height (cm), yield per plant, and powdery mildew visual score (0-9) indicated that these traits were linked with metribuzin resistance. Similarly, TGW was observed to co-segregate with metribuzin resistance in most confirmed NILs, signifying that the two traits are controlled by closely linked genes. The most contrasting NILs can be further characterised by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to identify the candidate genes responsible for metribuzin resistance.

Above- and belowground dry matter partitioning of four warm-season annual crops sown on different dates in a semiarid region

Ryegrass intercropping with residue incorporation enhances apple yield and reduces nitrogen loss despite minimal water–nitrogen competition on the Loess Plateau, China

Future smart food- Rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and underutilized species for zero hunger in Asia

Characteristics of Changes to <scp>POC</scp> and <scp>MAOC</scp> After Straw Returning in China: A Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT Straw returning is widely practiced in China to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC). However, how it affects SOC fractions—specifically, particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC) remains unclear. In this meta‐analysis, we synthesized 792 paired observations to assess the impacts of straw returning on SOC fractions across diverse climatic conditions, soil properties, and agronomic practices in China. The results showed that straw returning significantly increased SOC, with a larger contribution from POC than MAOC. The enhancement of POC decreased with rising mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP), while MAOC increased under these same conditions. Higher quantities of straw input led to greater increases in POC and MAOC. Conventional tillage had a more favorable effect on SOC, POC, and MAOC than no‐tillage systems when combined with straw returning. The most substantial improvements were observed with straw returning durations between 5 and 10 years. Soils with neutral and high C/N ratios exhibited greater potential for carbon sequestration. Furthermore, optimal application rates of nitrogen (100–240 kg ha −1 year −1 ), phosphorus (110–200 kg ha −1 year −1 ), and potassium (80–160 kg ha −1 year −1 ) fertilizers maximized POC accumulation by promoting aboveground biomass and enhancing soil aggregate formation. This study provides new insights into how well‐managed straw returning can improve the stabilization and functioning of soil organic carbon pools, offering a scientific foundation for developing regional straw management strategies.