Overview
Background
Acid soil, Aluminium toxicity, soil acidity, rhizosphere, plant roots, root growth, plant cell wall, nutrient uptake, plant nutrition
Having completed my B.Sc. majoring in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Chemistry, I completed my M.Sc. (Agric) in Horticultural Science. After completing a PhD on the effect of heavy metals and aluminium on plant root biochemistry, I have worked for various plant biotechnology companies, focussing on genetic engineering of crops, in-vitro growth, propagation systems and salinity tolerant tree crops. After rejoining the University, I have been involved in minesite rehabilitation, focussing on plant-soil-water relationships. I have completed and ARC funded research on Al toxicity, focussing on the hydrolysis of Al in plant roots. I am currently researching the effect of coal seam water application and the movement of salts in soils. I am also teaching the introductory Soil Science course to undergraduate students.
Availability
- Dr Bernhard Wehr is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research interests
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Plant-soil interactions
Plant roots are growing in soil and plants obtain most of their water and nutrients from the soil. Hostile soil conditions can significantly lower yields and affect profitability of producers. Common soil constraints in Australia and soil salinity and alkalinity, and poor soil physical properties. Management of soil constaints is necessary to increase yield and maintain profitability.
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Plant root physiology and plant cell walls
Plant cell walls are the part of plants roots in intimate contact with the soil. In particular, the anionic and cations charges found in plant cell walls play an important in how the plant perceives the soil environment and this affects uptake of nutrients by plant roots. Furthermore, the architecture of the root system affects how plants can exploit the soil for maximise uptake of water and nutrients.
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Aluminium toxicity and tolerance in plants
Aluminium toxicity is a significant problem in Australia and the rest of the world. In acid soils, dissolution of Al minerals releases trivalent Al ions which impair root growth. Consequently, water and nutrient uptake is decreased, resulting in yield losses. Understanding why Al is toxic to plant roots and management of acid soils to overcome Al toxicity is important to maintain or increase productivity.
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Agroforestry
Diversification of agricultural land use use to incorporate forestry can have a number of benefit for the environment and the producer. By setting aside less productive land for forestry, land degradation can be reversed or at least minimised by reducing wind and water erosion. In addition, forestry can provide habitat for native species and increase biodiversity. Beneficial effects are lowering of watertables in areas where dryland salinity is an issue, thereby preventing land degradation, increased soil carbon sequestration, increased visual amenity and an additional income stream.
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Land-disposal of waste products
Beneficial re-use of waste water and waste products such a manure and sewage can maintain or improve productivity by supplying water and nutrients to crops. Careful analysis of risks and benefits is required to evaluate the suitability of land disposal of waste products.
Works
Search Professor Bernhard Wehr’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Quantifying online engagement at three levels of undergraduate study
McKenna, Brigid A., Wehr, J. Bernhard and Kopittke, Peter M. (2024). Quantifying online engagement at three levels of undergraduate study. Cogent Education, 11 (1) 2345939. doi: 10.1080/2331186x.2024.2345939
2023
Journal Article
Wetting and drying cycles, organic amendments, and gypsum play a key role in structure formation and stability of sodic Vertisols
Niaz, Sara, Wehr, J. Bernhard, Dalal, Ram C., Kopittke, Peter M. and Menzies, Neal W. (2023). Wetting and drying cycles, organic amendments, and gypsum play a key role in structure formation and stability of sodic Vertisols. SOIL, 9 (1), 141-154. doi: 10.5194/soil-9-141-2023
2023
Journal Article
Predicting and modelling availability of fluoride in soil from sorption properties
Wehr, J. Bernhard, Dalzell, Scott A. and Menzies, Neal W. (2023). Predicting and modelling availability of fluoride in soil from sorption properties. Soil Use and Management, 39 (1), 521-534. doi: 10.1111/sum.12854
2022
Journal Article
Organic amendments and gypsum reduce dispersion and increase aggregation of two sodic Vertisols
Niaz, Sara, Wehr, J. Bernhard, Dalal, Ram C., Kopittke, Peter M. and Menzies, Neal W. (2022). Organic amendments and gypsum reduce dispersion and increase aggregation of two sodic Vertisols. Geoderma, 425 116047, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116047
2022
Conference Publication
Benchmarking mineral concentration, bulb yield and quality across garlic genotypes
Nguyen, Binh , Wehr, Bernhard , O'Hare, Timothy , Menzies, Neal , Hong, Hung and Harper, Stephen (2022). Benchmarking mineral concentration, bulb yield and quality across garlic genotypes. TropAg International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Sulfur nutrition affects garlic bulb yield and allicin concentration
Nguyen, Binh Thi, Harper, Stephen M., O'Hare, Tim J., Menzies, Neal W. and Wehr, Bernhard (2022). Sulfur nutrition affects garlic bulb yield and allicin concentration. Plants, 11 (19) 2571, 2571. doi: 10.3390/plants11192571
2021
Journal Article
A rapid and simplified methodology for the extraction and quantification of allicin in garlic
Nguyen, B.T., Hong, H.T., O’Hare, T.J., Wehr, J.B., Menzies, N.W. and Harper, S.M. (2021). A rapid and simplified methodology for the extraction and quantification of allicin in garlic. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 104 104114, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jfca.2021.104114
2021
Conference Publication
Excess nitrogen application reduces root yield of Achyranthes bidentata
Nguyen, Binh, Dang, Ha, Pham, Phuong, Chu, My, Nguyen, Duyen, Phan, Hien, Wehr, Bernhard and Harper, Stephen (2021). Excess nitrogen application reduces root yield of Achyranthes bidentata. The Soil Science Australia and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science Joint Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June - 2 July 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Sweetpotato yield comparison from pathogen tested and non-pathogen tested vines with coffee pulp in the PNG Highlands
Yeffrey, Yapo, Sirabis, William, Wehr, Bernhard, Menzies, Neal and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2021). Sweetpotato yield comparison from pathogen tested and non-pathogen tested vines with coffee pulp in the PNG Highlands. The Soil Science Australia and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science Joint Conference., Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June - 2 July 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Influence of rock dusts on C and N cycling in soils during a composting trial.
Gersekowski, Caitlin and Wehr, Bernhard (2021). Influence of rock dusts on C and N cycling in soils during a composting trial.. The Soil Science Australia and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science Joint Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June-2 July 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Soil fertility management techniques for increased sweetpotato root yield in Papua New Guinea (PNG) highlands
Jeffrey, Yapo, Sirabis, William, Atung, Cyril, Ramakrishna, Akkinapally, Wehr, Bernhard, Menzies, Neal and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2021). Soil fertility management techniques for increased sweetpotato root yield in Papua New Guinea (PNG) highlands. The Soil Science Australia and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science Joint Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June - 2 July 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Review of crop‐specific tolerance limits to acidity, salinity and sodicity for seventeen cereal, pulse, and oilseed crops common to rainfed subtropical cropping systems
Page, Kathryn L., Dang, Yash P., Martinez, Cristina, Dalal, Ram C., Wehr, J. Bernhard, Kopittke, Peter M., Orton, Thomas G. and Menzies, Neal W. (2021). Review of crop‐specific tolerance limits to acidity, salinity and sodicity for seventeen cereal, pulse, and oilseed crops common to rainfed subtropical cropping systems. Land Degradation and Development, 32 (8), 2459-2480. doi: 10.1002/ldr.3915
2021
Journal Article
Gamma irradiation with 50 kGy has a limited effect on agronomic properties of air-dry soil
Wehr, J. Bernhard and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2021). Gamma irradiation with 50 kGy has a limited effect on agronomic properties of air-dry soil. Soil Systems, 5 (2) 28, 28. doi: 10.3390/soilsystems5020028
2020
Other Outputs
Re-interpretation of soil core data with regard to changes in pH, EC and sodicity during irrigation with coal seam water
Wehr, Bernhard and Kopittke, Peter (2020). Re-interpretation of soil core data with regard to changes in pH, EC and sodicity during irrigation with coal seam water. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2020
Other Outputs
Sustaining soil fertility in support of intensification of Sweetpotato cropping systems
Wehr, Bernhard, Kirchhof, Gunnar and Menzies, Neal (2020). Sustaining soil fertility in support of intensification of Sweetpotato cropping systems. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ACIAR.
2020
Journal Article
Understanding the delayed expression of Al resistance in signal grass (Urochloa decumbens)
Li, Zhigen, Wehr, J. Bernhard, Wang, Peng, Menzies, Neal W. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2020). Understanding the delayed expression of Al resistance in signal grass (Urochloa decumbens). Annals of Botany, 125 (5), 841-850. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcz206
2020
Journal Article
Soil carbon and nitrogen pools, their depth distribution and stocks following plantation establishment in south east Queensland, Australia
Wehr, J. Bernhard, Lewis, Tom, Dalal, Ram C., Menzies, Neal W., Verstraten, Luke, Swift, Scott, Bryant, Philippa, Tindale, Neil and Smith, Tim E. (2020). Soil carbon and nitrogen pools, their depth distribution and stocks following plantation establishment in south east Queensland, Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 457 117708, 117708. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117708
2020
Book Chapter
Aluminum
Wehr, Johannes Bernhard , Blamey, Frederick Paxton Cardell , Kopittke, Peter Martin and Menzies, Neal William (2020). Aluminum. Managing global resources and universal processes. (pp. 155-174) edited by Brian D. Fath and Sven Erik Jorgensen. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press/Routledge.
2019
Other Outputs
Sustaining soil fertility in support of intensification of Sweetpotato cropping systems
Wehr, Bernhard, Kirchhoff, Gunnar and Menzies, Neal (2019). Sustaining soil fertility in support of intensification of Sweetpotato cropping systems. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ACIAR.
2019
Journal Article
Reforestation of agricultural land in the tropics: The relative contribution of soil, living biomass and debris pools to carbon sequestration
Lewis, Tom, Verstraten, Luke, Hogg, Bruce, Wehr, Bernhard J., Swift, Scott, Tindale, Neil, Menzies, Neal W., Dalal, Ram C., Bryant, Philippa, Francis, Ben and Smith, Timothy E. (2019). Reforestation of agricultural land in the tropics: The relative contribution of soil, living biomass and debris pools to carbon sequestration. Science of the Total Environment, 649, 1502-1513. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.351
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Bernhard Wehr is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Effect of silicon on plant physiological processes
This is a short-term project suited for an Hons/Masters level study.
Current field trials are conducted in which different types silicon amendments have been added to soil. The silicon has effects on both soil properties and plant physioloigcal processes. This project will only investigate plant responses, e.g. water stress tolerance, disease resistance, silicon uptake and distribution in crop species.
The project is suited to a student with good plant science background. The project can be located at either Gatton or St Lucia
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Effect of silicon on soil properties
This is a short-term project suited for an Hons/Masters level study.
Current field trials are conducted in which different types silicon amendments have been added to soil. The silicon has effects on both soil properties and plant physioloigcal processes. This project will only investigate changes in soil properties, e.g. water holding capacity, aggregation and aggregate strength, nutrient availability (esp phosphorus), and soil organic matter turnover.
The project is suited to a student with good soil science/chemistry background. The project can be located at either Gatton or St Lucia.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Ameliorating soil constraints using inorganic and organic amendments under rainfed conditions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM, Dr Yash Dang
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of environmental, genotypic and nutritional factors influencing yield and quality of garlic
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The amelioration of sodic soils with gypsum and organic amendments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke, Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of banding urea and enhanced efficiency fertilizers on nitrogen transformations and the implications for nitrogen use efficiency in high-risk environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of toxic cations on bacterial cellulose pectin composites used as cell wall analogs
Associate Advisor
Media
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