My role
I am a teaching and research academic at Murdoch University. The overall theme of my research is to develop and translate techniques that will overcome abiotic constraints to crop production and improve farmer livelihoods through crop diversification and increased crop production.
My research expertise covers the areas of rapid soil assessment, land capability assessment, soil physical constraints to crop production, soil acidity constraints for legumes, crop agronomy and cropping systems. This research has been implemented through investments from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) with international partnerships in Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Cambodia, and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investments, with partnerships in Western Australia and eastern states.
My research aligns with the university research themes of food security and sustainable food production.
I teach into the crop and pasture major, animal science major and environmental management across a number of units. In the units I teach, I deliver content from my area of expertise: soil science, soil management for plant growth, crop agronomy and crop physiology.
My background
I have over 20 years’ research experience in ACIAR and GRDC-funded research projects, both as an investigator and project leader.
My research has covered areas of land capability assessment, soil physical constraints to crop production, crop agronomy and cropping systems whilst participating in ACIAR projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Lao PDR.
Much of my PhD research (completed in 2013) was undertaken in the field in Bangladesh. I have been teaching into the undergraduate degrees at Murdoch University since 2011.
Projects
- Strengthening Soil Knowledge and Capability in Cambodia to Support Sustainable Upland Agricultural Development (ACIAR)
- Understanding Crop Development and Yield Responses to Mitigate High Soil Strength in Australian Soils (GRDC)
- Developing Genetic Tools to Facilitate Breeder Use and Deployment of High Value Acid Soil Tolerant Chickpea Germplasm (GRDC)
- Management Practices for Profitable Crop-Livestock Systems in Cambodia and Lao PDR (ACIAR) (completed)
- Assessment of Soil pH and Lime Requirement in Cambodian Soils (ACIAR) (completed)
- Identifying Low pH Tolerance and Effective Rhizobia for Wild Cicer to Improve Adaptation to Acid Sandy Soils (GRDC) (completed)
- Land Suitability Assessment and Site Specific Soil Management for Cambodian Uplands (ACIAR) (completed)
- Management Practices for Profitable Crop-Livestock Systems in Cambodia and Lao PDR (ACIAR) (completed)
- Assessment of Soil Research Needs for Improving Upland Agriculture in Cambodia (ACIAR) (completed)
Key expertise
Soil physical constraints to crop production, soil acidity constraints for legumes, rapid soil assessment, land capability assessment, crop agronomy, cropping systems
Qualifications
PhD (Env Sci)
MAgr Sc
GradCertGIS
BAgrSc