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

314 works between 1972 and 2025
All (314) Journal Article (267) Book Chapter (12) Conference Publication (31) Book (3) Other Outputs (1)

161 - 180 of 314 works

2013

Journal Article

Relationship between water use and nitrogen use efficiency discerned by 13C discrimination and 15N isotope ratio in bread wheat grown under no-till

Dalal, R. C., Strong, W. M., Cooper, J. E. and King, A. J. (2013). Relationship between water use and nitrogen use efficiency discerned by 13C discrimination and 15N isotope ratio in bread wheat grown under no-till. Soil and Tillage Research, 128, 110-118. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2012.07.019

Relationship between water use and nitrogen use efficiency discerned by 13C discrimination and 15N isotope ratio in bread wheat grown under no-till

2013

Journal Article

Organic carbon stocks in cropping soils of Queensland, Australia, as affected by tillage management, climate, and soil characteristics

Page, K. L., Dalal, R. C., Pringle, M. J., Bell, M., Dang, Y. P., Radford, B. and Bailey, K. (2013). Organic carbon stocks in cropping soils of Queensland, Australia, as affected by tillage management, climate, and soil characteristics. Soil Research, 51 (7-8), 596-607. doi: 10.1071/SR12225

Organic carbon stocks in cropping soils of Queensland, Australia, as affected by tillage management, climate, and soil characteristics

2013

Journal Article

Inorganic and organic carbon dynamics in a limed acid soil are mediated by plants

Ahmad, Waqar, Singh, Balwant, Dijkstra, Feike A. and Dalal, R. C. (2013). Inorganic and organic carbon dynamics in a limed acid soil are mediated by plants. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 57 (2), 549-555. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.10.013

Inorganic and organic carbon dynamics in a limed acid soil are mediated by plants

2012

Journal Article

Yield response to applied nutrients and estimates of N-2 fixation in 33-year-old soybean-wheat experiment on a vertisol

Singh, Muneshwar, Wanjari, R. H., Dwivedi, Anil and Dalal, Ram (2012). Yield response to applied nutrients and estimates of N-2 fixation in 33-year-old soybean-wheat experiment on a vertisol. Experimental Agriculture, 48 (3), 311-325. doi: 10.1017/S0014479712000129

Yield response to applied nutrients and estimates of N-2 fixation in 33-year-old soybean-wheat experiment on a vertisol

2012

Journal Article

Simulating soybean-wheat cropping system: APSIM model parameterization and validation

Mohanty, M., Probert, M. E., Reddy, K. S., Dalal, R. C., Mishra, A. K., Rao, A. S., Singh, M. and Menzies, N. W. (2012). Simulating soybean-wheat cropping system: APSIM model parameterization and validation. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 152, 68-78. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2012.02.013

Simulating soybean-wheat cropping system: APSIM model parameterization and validation

2012

Conference Publication

Soil organic carbon sequestration and turnover in leucaena-grass pastures of southern Queensland

Conrad, Kathryn A., Dalal, Ram C., Dalzell, Scott and Menzies, Neal W. (2012). Soil organic carbon sequestration and turnover in leucaena-grass pastures of southern Queensland. Soil Science: Joint Australian and New Zealand Soil Science Conference: Soil solutions for diverse landscapes, Hobart, Australia, 2 - 7 December 2012. Victoria, Australia: Australian Society of Soil Science.

Soil organic carbon sequestration and turnover in leucaena-grass pastures of southern Queensland

2012

Conference Publication

Modelling the effect of soil type and grazing on nitrogen cycling in a tropical grazing system

Pringle, M. J., Allen, D. E., Payne, J. E., Dalal, R. C. and Marchant, B. P. (2012). Modelling the effect of soil type and grazing on nitrogen cycling in a tropical grazing system. 5th Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 10 - 13 April 2012. Boca Raton, FL, United States: Taylor & Francis.

Modelling the effect of soil type and grazing on nitrogen cycling in a tropical grazing system

2011

Journal Article

The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks, and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes

Page, K. L., Dalal, R. C. and Raison, R. J. (2011). The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks, and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes. Australian Journal of Botany, 59 (7), 653-668. doi: 10.1071/BT11207

The impact of harvesting native forests on vegetation and soil C stocks, and soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes

2011

Journal Article

Electromagnetic induction sensing of soil identifies constraints to the crop yields of north-eastern Australia

Dang, Y. P., Dalal, R. C., Pringle, M. J., Biggs, A. J.W., Darr, S., Sauer, B., Moss, J., Payne, J. and Orange, D. (2011). Electromagnetic induction sensing of soil identifies constraints to the crop yields of north-eastern Australia. Soil Research, 49 (7), 559-571. doi: 10.1071/SR11199

Electromagnetic induction sensing of soil identifies constraints to the crop yields of north-eastern Australia

2011

Journal Article

Soil carbon stock in the tropical rangelands of Australia: Effects of soil type and grazing pressure, and determination of sampling requirement

Pringle, M. J., Allen, D. E., Dalal, R. C., Payne, J. E., Mayer, D. G., O'Reagain, P. and Marchant, B. P. (2011). Soil carbon stock in the tropical rangelands of Australia: Effects of soil type and grazing pressure, and determination of sampling requirement. Geoderma, 167-168, 261-273. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.09.001

Soil carbon stock in the tropical rangelands of Australia: Effects of soil type and grazing pressure, and determination of sampling requirement

2011

Journal Article

Soil nitrogen and nitrogen-use efficiency under long-term no-till practice

Dalal, Ram C., Wang, Weijin, Allen, Diane E., Reeves, Steven and Menzies, Neal W. (2011). Soil nitrogen and nitrogen-use efficiency under long-term no-till practice. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 75 (6), 2251-2261. doi: 10.2136/sssaj2010.0398

Soil nitrogen and nitrogen-use efficiency under long-term no-till practice

2011

Journal Article

Greenhouse gas fluxes from an Australian subtropical cropland under long-term contrasting management regimes

Wang, Weijin, Dalal, Ram C., Reeves, Steven H., Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus and Kiese, Ralf (2011). Greenhouse gas fluxes from an Australian subtropical cropland under long-term contrasting management regimes. Global Change Biology, 17 (10), 3089-3101. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02458.x

Greenhouse gas fluxes from an Australian subtropical cropland under long-term contrasting management regimes

2011

Journal Article

Identifying the spatial variability of soil constraints using multi-year remote sensing

Dang, Y. P., Pringle, M. J., Schmidt, M., Dalal, R. C. and Apan, A. (2011). Identifying the spatial variability of soil constraints using multi-year remote sensing. Field Crops Research, 123 (3), 248-258. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2011.05.021

Identifying the spatial variability of soil constraints using multi-year remote sensing

2011

Journal Article

Effect of fresh green waste and green waste compost on mineral nitrogen, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide from a Vertisol

Vaughan, Sarah M., Dalal, Ram C., Harper, Stephen M. and Menzies, Neal W. (2011). Effect of fresh green waste and green waste compost on mineral nitrogen, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide from a Vertisol. Waste Management, 31 (8), 1720-1728. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2011.03.019

Effect of fresh green waste and green waste compost on mineral nitrogen, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide from a Vertisol

2011

Journal Article

Contribution of natural and drained wetland systems to carbon stocks, CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes: An Australian perspective

Page, K. L. and Dalal, R. C. (2011). Contribution of natural and drained wetland systems to carbon stocks, CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes: An Australian perspective. Soil Research, 49 (5), 377-388. doi: 10.1071/SR11024

Contribution of natural and drained wetland systems to carbon stocks, CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes: An Australian perspective

2011

Journal Article

Organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks in a Vertisol following 40 years of no-tillage, crop residue retention and nitrogen fertilisation

Dalal, R. C., Allen, D. E., Wang, W. J., Reeves, S. and Gibson, I. (2011). Organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks in a Vertisol following 40 years of no-tillage, crop residue retention and nitrogen fertilisation. Soil and Tillage Research, 112 (2), 133-139. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2010.12.006

Organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks in a Vertisol following 40 years of no-tillage, crop residue retention and nitrogen fertilisation

2011

Journal Article

Modelling N mineralization from high C:N crop residues

Mohanty, M., Probert, M. E., Reddy, K. Sammi, Dalal, R. C., Rao, A. Subba and Menzies, N. W. (2011). Modelling N mineralization from high C:N crop residues. Agrochimica, 55 (3), 178-192.

Modelling N mineralization from high C:N crop residues

2011

Journal Article

Modelling N mineralization from green manure and farmyard manure from a laboratory incubation study

Mohanty, M., Sammi Reddy, K., Probert, M. E., Dalal, R. C., Rao, A. S. and Menzies, N. W. (2011). Modelling N mineralization from green manure and farmyard manure from a laboratory incubation study. Ecological Modelling, 222 (3), 719-726. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.10.027

Modelling N mineralization from green manure and farmyard manure from a laboratory incubation study

2011

Journal Article

Assessing carbon lability of particulate organic matter from delta C-13 changes following land-use change from C-3 native vegetation to C-4 pasture

Dalal, R. C., Cowie, B. A., Allen, D. E. and Yo, S. A. (2011). Assessing carbon lability of particulate organic matter from delta C-13 changes following land-use change from C-3 native vegetation to C-4 pasture. Soil Research, 49 (1), 98-103. doi: 10.1071/SR10083

Assessing carbon lability of particulate organic matter from delta C-13 changes following land-use change from C-3 native vegetation to C-4 pasture

2011

Journal Article

Crop residues and fertilizer nitrogen influence residue decomposition and nitrous oxide emission from a Vertisol

Muhammad, W, Vaughan, SM, Dalal, RC and Menzies, NW (2011). Crop residues and fertilizer nitrogen influence residue decomposition and nitrous oxide emission from a Vertisol. Biology And Fertility of Soils, 47 (1), 15-23. doi: 10.1007/s00374-010-0497-1

Crop residues and fertilizer nitrogen influence residue decomposition and nitrous oxide emission from a Vertisol

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

    Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mechanisms driving the persistence of soil organic matter

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke

  • 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

    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

    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

    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

    Organic matter decomposition and turnover in rhizobiomes of bauxite residue technosols

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang, Dr Fang You

  • 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

    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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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