Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
Adjunct Professor

Ram Dalal AM

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Background

Professor Ram Dalal is a Professor in the School of Agriculture and Food Science at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. He has contributed significantly to create awareness in the farming, scientific and general community to the seriousness and insidious nature of soil degradation. As a consequence, restorative practices for sustainable land management were developed and promoted. The international nature of the program was demonstrated by the fact that it was part of the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Program. It is now nationally recognized by policy makers and politicians that land degradation and sustainable land management are the national and international priorities. These projects have made significant contribution towards these issues.

In the last 30 years Dr Dalal has worked towards sustainable land management systems, nitrogen management and soil carbon dynamics. He was the co-leader of soil carbon program in the CRC for Greenhouse Accounting (199-2006), leader of soil carbon changes following land clearing funded by the Australian Greenhouse Office (1998-2002), reviewer for the IPCC Good Practice Guidance (2006) for the land sector, and leader of the National Soil Carbon Program (2012-2015) and Soil Constraints Initiative - Management of Sodic, Magnesic or Dispersive Soils (2015). He has been a consultant and project research contributor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (2004-2009). Recently, he has led a number of projects on estimating soil carbon stock following land use change from native vegetation to croplands, grazing lands, and management of croplands and grazing lands and rangelands (2009-2015) funded by the Department of Environment and Heritage, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Department of Agriculture, Commonwealth of Australia. In addition, he has also been involved in estimating nitrous oxide and methane emissions/ uptake from different ecosystems including agriculture, grassland, plantation forestry and estuarine/ mangrove systems (2000 – 2015). He led the National Soil Carbon Program from 2012 to 2015.

Availability

Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Crop and pasture production Environmental Sciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Research interests

  • Soil and Land Management

    Soil fertility, soil biology, soil chemistry, soil and water conservation, landscape restoration, soil carbon sequestration in cropping, pasture and forestry systems and nitrogen management in cropping and pasture systems, phosphorus and zinc nutrition, soil constraints including sodicity and salinity

  • Crop and Pasture Production

    Sustainable crop rotations, sustainable pasture production systems, crop and pasture rotations, crop and pasture nutrition, fertiliser use and nutrient use efficiency, water use efficiency

  • Greenhouse Gases Mitigation

    Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane emissions and uptake in soil-plant systems, carbon sequestration

Research impacts

My research programs created or contributed significantly to create awareness in the rural, scientific and general community in Queensland, nationwide and internationally to the seriousness and insidious nature of land degradation, carbon loss, sustainability indicators and landscape processes that lead among others, to poor soil and land quality, fertility decline and stream and groundwater quality deterioration. For the last 25 years, landscape restoration, soil organic matter management, carbon sequestration and nitrogen management, and site-specific management for soil and subsoil and other constraints and sustainable crop and pasture rotations and vegetation management have been the central research platforms across cropping, rangelands and forestry ecosystems. The international nature of the program is demonstrated by the fact that it was one of only two sites listed from Australia with the International Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Program. The Fertility Restoration Site of this program was frequently visited by national and international scientists.

Policy makers and politicians now nationally recognize that land degradation, carbon loss and landscape degradation processes lead to deteriorating water quality, and that sustainable land, vegetation and water use, and greenhouse gas mitigation and climate change are the state and national priorities. These projects have been pioneer in Australia in these fields and made significant contribution towards resolving these issues, and provided impetus to initiating similar studies in Australia and worldwide.

Search Professor Ram Dalal AM’s works on UQ eSpace

310 works between 1972 and 2025
All (310) Journal Article (264) Book Chapter (12) Conference Publication (31) Book (3)

221 - 240 of 310 works

2005

Journal Article

Changes in soil carbon and soil nitrogen after tree clearing in the semi-arid rangelands of Queensland

Harms, B. P., Dalal, R. C. and Cramp, A. P. (2005). Changes in soil carbon and soil nitrogen after tree clearing in the semi-arid rangelands of Queensland. Australian Journal of Botany, 53 (7), 639-650. doi: 10.1071/BT04154

Changes in soil carbon and soil nitrogen after tree clearing in the semi-arid rangelands of Queensland

2005

Journal Article

Biophysical and sociological impacts of farmyard manure and its potential role in meeting crop nutrient needs: A farmers' survey in Madhya Pradesh, India

Reddy, K. S., Kumar, N., Sharma, A. K., Acharya, C. L. and Dalal, R. C. (2005). Biophysical and sociological impacts of farmyard manure and its potential role in meeting crop nutrient needs: A farmers' survey in Madhya Pradesh, India. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45 (4), 357-367. doi: 10.1071/EA03225

Biophysical and sociological impacts of farmyard manure and its potential role in meeting crop nutrient needs: A farmers' survey in Madhya Pradesh, India

2005

Journal Article

Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen

Dalal, R. C., Harms, B. P., Krull, E., Wang, W. J. and Mathers, N. J. (2005). Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 43 (2), 179-187. doi: 10.1071/SR04076

Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen

2005

Journal Article

Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon

Dalal, R. C., Harms, B. P., Krull, E. and Wang, W. J. (2005). Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 43 (1), 13-20. doi: 10.1071/SR04044

Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon

2005

Journal Article

Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge

Kliese, YJ, Dalal, RC, Strong, WM and Menzies, NW (2005). Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 56 (3), 245-255. doi: 10.1071/AR04187

Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge

2005

Journal Article

Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge (vol 56, pg 250, 2005)

Kliese, YJ, Dalal, RC, Strong, WM and Menzies, NW (2005). Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge (vol 56, pg 250, 2005). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 56 (12), 1415-U13. doi: 10.1071/AR04187_CO

Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops. 1. Mineral N supply estimated from laboratory incubations and field application of stockpiled and wet sludge (vol 56, pg 250, 2005)

2005

Journal Article

Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops - 2. Assay of wet and stockpiled piggery pond sludge by successive cereal crops or direct measurement of soil available N

Kliese, Y. J., Strong, W. M., Dalal, R. C. and Menzies, N. W. (2005). Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops - 2. Assay of wet and stockpiled piggery pond sludge by successive cereal crops or direct measurement of soil available N. Australian Journal Of Agricultural Research, 56 (5), 517-526. doi: 10.1071/AR04230

Piggery pond sludge as a nitrogen source for crops - 2. Assay of wet and stockpiled piggery pond sludge by successive cereal crops or direct measurement of soil available N

2004

Journal Article

Soil carbon sequestration and density distribution in a Vertosol under different farming practices

Wang, W. J., Dalal, R. C. and Moody, P. W. (2004). Soil carbon sequestration and density distribution in a Vertosol under different farming practices. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 42 (8), 875-882. doi: 10.1071/SR04023

Soil carbon sequestration and density distribution in a Vertosol under different farming practices

2004

Journal Article

Decomposition dynamics of plant materials in relation to nitrogen availability and biochemistry determined by NMR and wet-chemical analysis

Wang, W. J., Baldock, J. A., Dalal, R. C. and Moody, P. W. (2004). Decomposition dynamics of plant materials in relation to nitrogen availability and biochemistry determined by NMR and wet-chemical analysis. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 36 (12), 2045-2058. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.05.023

Decomposition dynamics of plant materials in relation to nitrogen availability and biochemistry determined by NMR and wet-chemical analysis

2004

Journal Article

Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 8. Effect of duration of lucerne ley on soil nitrogen and water, wheat yield and protein

Dalal, R. C., Weston, E. J., Strong, W. M., Probert, M. E., Lehane, K. J., Cooper, J. E., King, A. J. and Holmes, C. J. (2004). Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 8. Effect of duration of lucerne ley on soil nitrogen and water, wheat yield and protein. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 44 (10), 1013-1024. doi: 10.1071/EA03166

Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 8. Effect of duration of lucerne ley on soil nitrogen and water, wheat yield and protein

2004

Journal Article

Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 7. Yield, nitrogen and disease-break benefits from lucerne in a two-year lucerne-wheat rotation

Dalal, R. C., Weston, E. J., Strong, W. M., Lehane, K. J., Cooper, J. E., Wildermuth, G. B., King, A. J. and Holmes, C. J. (2004). Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 7. Yield, nitrogen and disease-break benefits from lucerne in a two-year lucerne-wheat rotation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 44 (6), 607-616. doi: 10.1071/EA02115

Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 7. Yield, nitrogen and disease-break benefits from lucerne in a two-year lucerne-wheat rotation

2004

Conference Publication

The effect of salinity on plant available water

Sheldon, A., Menzies, N. W., So, H.B. and Dalal, R. C. (2004). The effect of salinity on plant available water. 3rd Australian New Zealand Soils Conference (Supersoil 2004), Sydney, Australia, 5-9 December 2004. Gosford, Australia: The Regional Institute.

The effect of salinity on plant available water

2004

Conference Publication

Identification of the causes of subsoil ammonium accumulations in southeastern Queensland

Page, K. L., Dalal, R. C., Menzies, N. W. and Strong, W. (2004). Identification of the causes of subsoil ammonium accumulations in southeastern Queensland. 3rd Australian New Zealand Soils Conference (Supersoil 2004), Sydney, Australia, 5-9 December 2004. Gosford, Australia: The Regional Institute.

Identification of the causes of subsoil ammonium accumulations in southeastern Queensland

2003

Journal Article

Nitrous oxide emission from Australian agricultural lands and mitigation options: A review

Dalal, Ram C., Wang, Weijin, Robertson, G. Philip and Parton, William J. (2003). Nitrous oxide emission from Australian agricultural lands and mitigation options: A review. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 41 (2), 165-195. doi: 10.1071/SR02064

Nitrous oxide emission from Australian agricultural lands and mitigation options: A review

2003

Journal Article

Application of sustainability indicators, soil organic matter and electrical conductivity, to resource management in the northern grains region

Dalal, R. C., Eberhard, R., Grantham, T. and Mayer, D. G. (2003). Application of sustainability indicators, soil organic matter and electrical conductivity, to resource management in the northern grains region. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 43 (3), 253-259. doi: 10.1071/EA00186

Application of sustainability indicators, soil organic matter and electrical conductivity, to resource management in the northern grains region

2003

Journal Article

Comments on "evaluation of the microwave irradiation method for measuring soil microbial biomass"

Weil, R. R., Islam, K. R., Wang, W. J., Dalal, R. C. and Moody, P. W. (2003). Comments on "evaluation of the microwave irradiation method for measuring soil microbial biomass". Soil Science Society of America Journal, 67 (2), 674-677.

Comments on "evaluation of the microwave irradiation method for measuring soil microbial biomass"

2003

Journal Article

Relationships of soil respiration to microbial biomass, substrate availability and clay content

Wang, W. J., Dalal, R. C., Moody, P. W. and Smith, C. J. (2003). Relationships of soil respiration to microbial biomass, substrate availability and clay content. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 35 (2), 273-284. doi: 10.1016/S0038-0717(02)00274-2

Relationships of soil respiration to microbial biomass, substrate availability and clay content

2003

Journal Article

Subsoil nitrogen mineralisation and its potential to contribute to NH4 accumulation in a Vertosol

Page, KL, Dalal, RC, Menzies, NW and Strong, WM (2003). Subsoil nitrogen mineralisation and its potential to contribute to NH4 accumulation in a Vertosol. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 41 (1), 119-126. doi: 10.1071/SR02038

Subsoil nitrogen mineralisation and its potential to contribute to NH4 accumulation in a Vertosol

2003

Journal Article

Nitrate ammonification and its relationship to the accumulation of ammonium in a Vertisol subsoil

Page, KL, Dalal, RC and Menzies, NW (2003). Nitrate ammonification and its relationship to the accumulation of ammonium in a Vertisol subsoil. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 41 (4), 687-697. doi: 10.1071/SR02100

Nitrate ammonification and its relationship to the accumulation of ammonium in a Vertisol subsoil

2003

Journal Article

Using quantity/intensity relationships to assess the potential for ammonium leaching in a Vertosol

Page, KL, Menzies, NW and Dalal, RC (2003). Using quantity/intensity relationships to assess the potential for ammonium leaching in a Vertosol. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 41 (2), 207-214. doi: 10.1071/SR02061

Using quantity/intensity relationships to assess the potential for ammonium leaching in a Vertosol

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Role of nitrogen-rich compounds for increasing carbon sequestration in soil
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Enhancing soil health and climate resilience in the Northern Territory
    Climate-Smart Agriculture Program ¿ Capacity Building
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Mineral Biosequestration of Organic Carbon in Early Pedogenesis of Tailings
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Phosphorus in soil used for long-term agriculture: Increasing efficiency and food production
    Soil Science Challenge
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Improving the drought resilience of Queensland cropping soils by removing barriers to the identification and management of soil constraints
    Future Drought Fund: Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Carbon ID: A remote sensing decision support tool to identify the impact of agricultural land management on soil carbon stock
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Breaking critical barriers in soil formation of bauxite residues
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Economics of ameliorating soil constraints in the Northern Region: Spatial soil constraint diagnoses in the northern region (Project A)
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant

Availability

Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Sustainable and resilient farming systems intensification in the eastern Gangetic plains

    The overall aim of the project is to reduce poverty in the eastern Gangetic plains by improving the productivity, profitability and sustainability of smallholder agriculture.

    The project has four objectives that will lead towards sustainable and resilient farming systems intensification in the EGP:

    1. Understand farmer circumstances with respect to cropping systems, natural and economic resources base, livelihood strategies, and capacity to bear risk and undertake technological innovation.

    2. Develop, with farmers more productive and sustainable technologies that are resilient and profitable for smallholders.

    3. Catalyse, support and evaluate institutional and policy changes that establish an enabling environment for the adoption of high-impact technologies from Objective 2.

    4. Facilitate widespread adoption of sustainable, resilient and more profitable farming systems.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Organic matter decomposition and turnover in rhizobiomes of bauxite residue technosols

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang, Dr Fang You

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter: Storage, Composition, and Responses to Land Use Change

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Han Weng, Professor Peter Kopittke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Ameliorating soil constraints using inorganic and organic amendments under rainfed conditions

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Bernhard Wehr, Dr Yash Dang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the influence of long-term land use change on the chemical speciation of C, S and P in SOM fractions isolated using density and physical fractionation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Brigid McKenna, Dr Tim McLaren, Professor Peter Kopittke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating the Impact of Fungal Activity on Soil Carbon Dynamics - Tracing Carbon Fluxes Across Plant-Fungi-Mineral Networks

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Vijaya Singh

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mechanisms driving the persistence of soil organic matter

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Tim McLaren, Professor Peter Kopittke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Ameliorating soil constraints using inorganic and organic amendments under rainfed conditions

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Bernhard Wehr, Dr Yash Dang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter: Storage, Composition, and Responses to Land Use Change

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Han Weng, Professor Peter Kopittke

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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