Non-wetting soils research has received a boost with the development of an innovative soil hydrology model by Department of Agriculture and Food researcher Craig Scanlan.
Dr Scanlan recently received a prestigious national award from the Australian Soil Science Society for his soil hydrology work, which formed the basis of his PhD thesis.
“The model enables us to investigate how roots and the channels they leave behind impact on water and nutrient flows within soils”, Dr Scanlan said.
Dr Scanlan will use the model in a new department project funded by GRDC on non-wetting soils.
“We will be working with grower groups to evaluate the effectiveness of management options to alleviate non-wetting in soils across the wheatbelt,” Dr Scanlan said.
“The hydrology model will help us determine how different management options affect the distribution of water through the soil profile, its availability to crops and the impact of this on nutrient availability.”
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