Dr Alwyn Williams
Dr

Alwyn Williams

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 54601 617

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:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Agro-ecosystem function and prediction Agroforestry Agronomy Carbon sequestration science Crop and pasture nutrition Crop and pasture production Environmental Sciences Environmental rehabilitation and restoration Forestry sciences Horticultural production Soil sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Biology, Imperial College London
  • Masters (Coursework) of Forest Science, Imperial College London
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Forestry, University of Canterbury

Search Professor Alwyn Williams’s works on UQ eSpace

81 works between 2010 and 2024
All (81) Journal Article (55) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (20) Other Outputs (4)

1 - 20 of 81 works

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

Root angle, phosphorus, and water: interactions and effects on durum wheat genotype performance in drought-prone environments

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

Achieving stable and sustainable Mungbean yields in Australia via optimal sowing dates

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, 34 (2), 56-71. doi: 10.1017/s0960258523000235

Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental factors and their influence on germination performance of Australian native species

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

Environmental effects during early life-history stages and seed development on seed functional traits of an Australian native legume species

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

Cover crop functional types alter soil nematode community composition and structure in dryland crop-fallow rotations

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

Optimizing ecosystem function multifunctionality with cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes in dryland cropping systems

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

Modelling the impacts of diverse cover crops on soil water and nitrogen and cash crop yields in a sub-tropical dryland

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.

Post-anthesis maternal environmental effects on seed traits of the native Australian grass Heteropogon contortus

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

Drought stress affects the reproductive biology of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana

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

Phosphorus management is key to effective deployment of root ideotypes in complex soil environments

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.

Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental stressors and their influence on seed germination of Australian native species

2023

Other Outputs

Maize trials

Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael (2023). Maize trials. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/d6c64ea

Maize trials

2023

Other Outputs

Chickpea trials

Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael (2023). Chickpea trials. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8479e01

Chickpea trials

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

Spatio-temporal distribution of water and phosphorus determine growth of sorghum genotypes with contrasting nodal root angle

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

Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.): An Emerging Weed in the Sweet Corn–Brassica Cropping System

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

Seed morpho-anatomy and germination enhancement of the Australian native species Lomandra longifolia Labill. and L. hystrix (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery

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

Elevated temperature affects Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana reproductive biology

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

Datasets supporting the adoption of multifunctional cover crops related to soil water and nitrogen in water-limited environments

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

Integrating diverse cover crops for fallow replacement in a subtropical dryland: implications on subsequent cash crop yield, grain quality, and gross margins

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.

Trait-based design of multifunctional cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from the decomposition of crop residue (GRDC grant administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Utilising novel Pongamia trees to decarbonise Australia's beef value-chain
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Supporting sustainable diversification of ORIA cropping system (CRC Northern Australia Project leading by Northern Australia Crop Research Alliance Pty Ltd)
    Northern Australia Crop Research Alliance Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Understanding impacts of contrasting cropping systems on soil organic matter, microbial activity and the dynamics of soil water and nitrogen in rainfed cropping systems on Vertosols in northeast Aust
    Soil Science Challenge
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Predicting nitrogen cycling and losses in Australian cropping systems - augmenting measurements to enhance modelling
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2026
    Crop health and nutrient management of shallot-chilli-rice cropping systems in coastal Indonesia
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    Efficacy of a range of Industrial Hemp seed priming and chemical treatments on seed germination, seedling emergence, and growth
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Determine the role of ground pearls in pasture dieback
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Technical and data management support for NCR1907-001RTX
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Machine learning to extract maximum value from soil and crop variability (GRDC project administered by The University of Adelaide).
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Optimising mungbean yields - mungbean physiology
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Postdoctoral Fellowship interfacing crop improvement and agronomy/nutrition programs
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Promoting soil health in broadacre agriculture via greater crop rotational diversity and reduced fallow periods
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Alwyn Williams is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Promoting soil health in Australian cropping systems

    Soil health in Australian cropping systems is declining, undermining long-term production potential. Ongoing research opportunities are available to investigate soil health-related issues, including soil fertility and crop nutrient management (including impacts of contrasting fertiliser strategies as well as use of organic amendments), soil carbon, novel cropping practices (including methods of ecological intensification, e.g., cover cropping, and increasing crop rotational diversity), and analysis of soil biota and plant-soil interactions. Students with a strong GPA are welcome to contact Alwyn to discuss project opportunities.

  • Promoting soil health in Australian cropping systems

    Soil health in Australian cropping systems is declining, undermining long-term production potential. Ongoing research opportunities are available to investigate soil health-related issues, including soil fertility and crop nutrient management (including impacts of contrasting fertiliser strategies as well as use of organic amendments), soil carbon, novel cropping practices (including methods of ecological intensification, e.g., cover cropping, and increasing crop rotational diversity), and analysis of soil biota and plant-soil interactions. Students with a strong GPA are welcome to contact Alwyn to discuss project opportunities.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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