Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

School of Biology and Environmental Science

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy

Supervisors

Ms Taleta Bailey
Position
Research Fellow in Soil Science
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science
Professor Peter Grace
Position
Professor of Global Change
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science
Professor David Rowlings
Position
Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science

Overview

Nitrogen fertilisers contribute 32% of global nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, representing a significant contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Finding ways to reduce N2O emissions from soil is critical to reaching net zero GHG emissions and improving the efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser use in cropping systems.

Nitrous oxide is produced in soil via microbial processes of nitrification (where ammonium is converted to nitrate) and denitrification (where nitrate is converted to N2O). Under the right conditions, denitrification may progress further with N2O being converted to di-nitrogen (N2). Di-nitrogen poses no environmental hazard, but is still a loss of valuable N that could otherwise be available to a crop.

Research engagement

This project will contribute to measurement of N2O and N2 emissions (denitrification) from cropping soils, and determining the soil conditions (e.g. nitrate concentration, organic C availability, water content) which affect production of N2O and N2.

Research activities

Working in the Sustainable Agroecosystems team within the Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, you will experience research techniques spanning field and lab experiments, soil and gas sampling and analyses, and custom-built field and lab-based gas sampling systems.

Activities may include:

  • Literature review
  • Field or lab based soil and gas sampling
  • Soil and gas analysis
  • Data analysis and presentation

Outcomes

This works forms part of a nation-wide project aiming to quantify nitrogen cycling and losses in the Australian grains industry. The outcomes will help improve understanding of what factors control denitrification losses from grains soils, optimise nitrogen fertiliser use and improve the representation of soil nitrogen cycling in cropping systems simulation models.

Skills and experience

Interests in agriculture or environmental sciences. Experience in soil science desirable.

Start date

3 December, 2024

End date

21 February, 2025

Location

Gardens Point Campus

Keywords

Contact

Taleta Bailey - taleta.bailey@qut.edu.au