OUR TEAM
SOIL SCIENTISTS
Kehinde O. Erinle
Research Scientist (Soil Health), DPIRD
+61 (0)8 9780 6124
+61 458 286 421
My role
I am a research scientist specialising in soil science and currently working on the Know Your Southern Soils (KYSS) project, which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under the National Soil Action Plan (2023–2028).
My role in the KYSS project includes soil description (according to the Australian Soil Classification), identifying key soil health indicators, and assessing the links between soil health, farm business value, and regional sustainability. This work focuses on developing practical, cost-effective, and relevant approaches for Western Australian farmers and agricultural consultants at the paddock scale, supporting informed soil health assessment and management decisions that can be readily adopted on-farm.
Previously, I worked on the Carnarvon Flood Project, supporting growers in adopting best-practice soil management strategies to minimise soil erosion. This involved conducting field-based plot trials to evaluate cover crops and other soil conservation practices for reducing soil loss through erosion and runoff. I also worked closely with growers to translate research findings into practical farm management recommendations, including revising the ‘Farm Management Guide for the Prevention of Soil Erosion in the Carnarvon Horticultural Area’.
More broadly, my research interests focus on soil health, soil conservation, and crop nutrition, with an emphasis on developing practical and sustainable strategies to reduce soil erosion, improve soil condition, and enhance crop productivity. I am particularly interested in research that bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and practical on-farm applications.
My background
I have been a research scientist with DPIRD since 2022 and have over 15 years of experience in soil science research.
I hold a PhD in Soil Science from the University of Adelaide (2016-2019), supported by the University of Adelaide International Scholarship, and have contributed to research projects across Australia, China, Pakistan, Africa, and Sweden, focusing on improving soil conditions and crop production.
Before joining DPIRD, I was a research associate at the University of Adelaide (2019–2022), investigating the interactions between soil water availability and nutrient supply, particularly phosphorus, in organically-amended soils. Prior to this, I was a visiting research scholar at Northeast Agricultural University, China (2013–2016), where I researched the use of soil amendments to mitigate the genotoxic effects of agrochemicals such as atrazine.
My research contributions were recognised through the Australian Government’s Global Talent Visa for Permanent Residence, and I received the University of Adelaide’s Dean of Graduate Studies Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence. I have also been invited to peer-review scientific articles for several international journals and to deliver guest lectures in Pakistan and China.
I am a member of Soil Science Australia and have published over 40 scientific papers in highly reputed journals of soil and plant sciences. The publications have been cited more than 1,000 times since 2021 (Google Scholar, 2026).
Projects
Know Your Southern Soils (KYSS) – Western Australia, Australia (current)
Carnarvon Flood Project – Western Australia, Australia (completed)
Influence of Rainfall Patterns and Intensity on Nitrogen Mineralisation from Organic Soil Amendments – Sweden and Australia (completed)
Impact of Water Management and Microbial Inoculation on Crop Productivity and Soil Properties in Dry Regions – Pakistan (completed)
Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Food Crops – Pakistan (completed)
Effect of Humidity and Biobed Composition on the Retention and Degradation of Pesticides – Burkina Faso (completed)
Atrazine-Induced Physiological Effects on Pennisetum Seedlings and the Ameliorative Effects of Calcium – China (completed)
Key expertise
- Soil health assessment and soil characterisation – soil description, selection of practical soil health indicators, and assessment of soil condition at the paddock scale.
- Soil–water–nutrient interactions and crop nutrition – understanding soil processes affecting water and nutrient availability and their influence on crop productivity.
- Soil conservation and erosion management – developing and evaluating practical strategies to minimise soil erosion and runoff in agricultural systems.
- Sustainable soil management and soil amendments – application of soil amendments and management practices to improve soil health, crop productivity, and environmental outcomes.
Qualifications
PhD Soil Science, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
MSc Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
B. Agric Soil Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria