Overview
Background
My research focusses on soil health in cropping and pasture systems, specialising in soil carbon and soil organic matter dynamics, microbial ecology, and plant-soil interactions. I am interested in how agronomic interventions impact soil health and in developing methods to reverse soil fertility decline and build healthier, more productive soils. This includes understanding the impacts of tillage, cover cropping, crop rotational diversity, nutrient management, and organic amendments on soil functional processes and crop development and productivity.
I have extensive experience in designing and analyzing field and glasshouse experiments and implementing advanced statistical models using R. I have excellent verbal and written communication skills, maintain positive relationships with collaborators both nationally and internationally, and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Availability
- Dr Alwyn Williams is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Biology, Imperial College London
- Masters (Coursework) of Forest Science, Imperial College London
- Doctor of Philosophy of Forestry, University of Canterbury
Works
Search Professor Alwyn Williams’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Root angle, phosphorus, and water: interactions and effects on durum wheat genotype performance in drought-prone environments
van der Bom, Frederik J. T., Williams, Alwyn, Raymond, Nelly S., Alahmad, Samir, Hickey, Lee T., Singh, Vijaya and Bell, Michael J. (2024). Root angle, phosphorus, and water: interactions and effects on durum wheat genotype performance in drought-prone environments. Plant and Soil, 500 (1-2), 69-89. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-05966-z
2024
Journal Article
Achieving stable and sustainable Mungbean yields in Australia via optimal sowing dates
Pasley, Heather, Williams, Alwyn, Bell, Lindsay and Collins, Marisa (2024). Achieving stable and sustainable Mungbean yields in Australia via optimal sowing dates. Field Crops Research, 313 109431, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109431
2024
Journal Article
Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental factors and their influence on germination performance of Australian native species
Beveridge, Fernanda C., Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Dayananda, Buddhi and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental factors and their influence on germination performance of Australian native species. Seed Science Research, 1-16. doi: 10.1017/s0960258523000235
2024
Journal Article
Environmental effects during early life-history stages and seed development on seed functional traits of an Australian native legume species
Beveridge, Fernanda C., Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Haque, Mirza M. and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Environmental effects during early life-history stages and seed development on seed functional traits of an Australian native legume species. Biology, 13 (3) 148. doi: 10.3390/biology13030148
2024
Journal Article
Optimizing ecosystem function multifunctionality with cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes in dryland cropping systems
Garba, Ismail I., Bell, Lindsay W., Chauhan, Bhagirath S. and Williams, Alwyn (2024). Optimizing ecosystem function multifunctionality with cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes in dryland cropping systems. Agricultural Systems, 214 103821, 103821. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103821
2024
Journal Article
Cover crop functional types alter soil nematode community composition and structure in dryland crop-fallow rotations
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim, Stirling, Graham R., Stirling, A. Marcelle and Williams, Alwyn (2024). Cover crop functional types alter soil nematode community composition and structure in dryland crop-fallow rotations. Applied Soil Ecology, 194 105196, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105196
2023
Journal Article
Modelling the impacts of diverse cover crops on soil water and nitrogen and cash crop yields in a sub-tropical dryland
Garba, Ismail I., Bell, Lindsay W., Chapman, Scott, deVoil, Peter, Kamara, Alpha Y. and Williams, Alwyn (2023). Modelling the impacts of diverse cover crops on soil water and nitrogen and cash crop yields in a sub-tropical dryland. Field Crops Research, 301 109019, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109019
2023
Conference Publication
Post-anthesis maternal environmental effects on seed traits of the native Australian grass Heteropogon contortus
Caro Beveridge, Fernanda, Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundar and Adkins, Steve (2023). Post-anthesis maternal environmental effects on seed traits of the native Australian grass Heteropogon contortus. 10th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Darwin, NT Australia, 26-30 September 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Drought stress affects the reproductive biology of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana
Ali, Mohammad, Williams, Alwyn, Widderick, Michael, Haque, Mohammad Anamul and Adkins, Steve (2023). Drought stress affects the reproductive biology of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana. Land, 12 (9) 1745, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/land12091745
2023
Journal Article
Phosphorus management is key to effective deployment of root ideotypes in complex soil environments
van der Bom, Frederik J. T., Williams, Alwyn, Borrell, Andrew K., Raymond, Nelly and Bell, Michael J. (2023). Phosphorus management is key to effective deployment of root ideotypes in complex soil environments. Plant and Soil, 489 (1-2), 323-340. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-06020-8
2023
Conference Publication
Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental stressors and their influence on seed germination of Australian native species
Caro Beveridge, Fernanda, Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundar and Adkins, Steve (2023). Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental stressors and their influence on seed germination of Australian native species. 14th Biennial ISSS Conference: Seed science in a changing world, Paris, France, 3-7 July 2023.
2023
Other Outputs
Maize trials
Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael (2023). Maize trials. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/d6c64ea
2023
Other Outputs
Chickpea trials
Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael (2023). Chickpea trials. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8479e01
2023
Journal Article
Spatio-temporal distribution of water and phosphorus determine growth of sorghum genotypes with contrasting nodal root angle
van der Bom, Frederik, Williams, Alwyn, Raymond, Nelly, Sulman, Richard, McLean, Greg and Bell, Michael (2023). Spatio-temporal distribution of water and phosphorus determine growth of sorghum genotypes with contrasting nodal root angle. Plant and Soil, 499 (1-2), 37-54. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-06073-9
2023
Journal Article
Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.): An Emerging Weed in the Sweet Corn–Brassica Cropping System
Saifullah, Khaled, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve (2023). Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.): An Emerging Weed in the Sweet Corn–Brassica Cropping System. Agronomy, 13 (5) 1430, 1430. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13051430
2023
Journal Article
Seed morpho-anatomy and germination enhancement of the Australian native species Lomandra longifolia Labill. and L. hystrix (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery
Beveridge, Fernanda Caro, Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian and Adkins, Steve W. (2023). Seed morpho-anatomy and germination enhancement of the Australian native species Lomandra longifolia Labill. and L. hystrix (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery. Applied Biosciences, 2 (2), 222-235. doi: 10.3390/applbiosci2020016
2023
Journal Article
Elevated temperature affects Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana reproductive biology
Ali, Mohammad, Williams, Alwyn, Widderick, Michael and Adkins, Steve (2023). Elevated temperature affects Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana reproductive biology. Agronomy, 13 (2) 474, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13020474
2023
Journal Article
Datasets supporting the adoption of multifunctional cover crops related to soil water and nitrogen in water-limited environments
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2023). Datasets supporting the adoption of multifunctional cover crops related to soil water and nitrogen in water-limited environments. Data in Brief, 46 108841, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2022.108841
2023
Journal Article
Integrating diverse cover crops for fallow replacement in a subtropical dryland: implications on subsequent cash crop yield, grain quality, and gross margins
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2023). Integrating diverse cover crops for fallow replacement in a subtropical dryland: implications on subsequent cash crop yield, grain quality, and gross margins. Agronomy, 13 (1) 271, 271. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13010271
2022
Conference Publication
Trait-based design of multifunctional cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2022). Trait-based design of multifunctional cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes. International Tropical Agriculture conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Alwyn Williams is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using stable isotope techniques to quantify the above and below-ground N contribution from legume residues to subsequent grain crops
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell, Dr Chelsea Janke
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of different crop residues affecting soil nutrient stratification, soil moisture dynamics and crop productivity under no-till agriculture systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell, Dr Yui Osanai
-
Doctor Philosophy
Managing nitrogen in Ord valley irrigated cropping
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Carbon and Nitrogen cycling through diverse cover crop system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Adkins, Dr Sundar Kalaipandian, Associate Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
-
Doctor Philosophy
Soil biology impacts on sustainability and productivity of high value vegetable cropping systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen, Professor Victor Galea
-
Doctor Philosophy
WEED DYNAMICS IN A SWEET CORN-BRASSICA CROPPING SYSTEM: IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Adkins
-
Doctor Philosophy
Interactions between seed functional traits and climate change in the Australian flora: implications for seed-based restoration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Robyn Cave, Dr Sundar Kalaipandian, Professor Steve Adkins
-
Doctor Philosophy
Determining the role of ground pearls in Pasture Dieback
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shane Campbell, Dr Anthony Young
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Cover cropping in drylands for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman, Professor Bhagirath Chauhan
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
A systems approach modelling the interdependence between livelihoods, wildfire and biochar on degraded peatlands in Central Kalimantan
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of a variable changing climate on Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana management in conservation agriculture
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Adkins
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the opportunities to improve smallholder rubber production through the development of an integrated decision support system: A Malaysian case study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
GLYPHOSATE EFFICACY UNDER PROJECTED CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACT ON THREE SUMMER FALLOW WEEDS OF AUSTRALIAN NORTHERN GRAIN REGION
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris O'Donnell, Professor Steve Adkins
-
2020
Master Philosophy
Enhancing seed-based restoration in south-east Queensland using Australian native species
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Robyn Cave, Professor Steve Adkins
Media
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