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
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
2019
Other Outputs
Review of sulfur oxidation in soil with particular reference to land amendment irrigation for the management of coal seam water
Wehr, J. Bernhard and Kopittke, Peter (2019). Review of sulfur oxidation in soil with particular reference to land amendment irrigation for the management of coal seam water. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Conference Publication
The relationship between bulb yield and allicin concentration in garlic varieties
Nguyen, Binh, Wehr, Bernhard, O’Hare, Timothy, Hong, Hung, Menzies, Neal and Harper, Stephen (2019). The relationship between bulb yield and allicin concentration in garlic varieties. Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11 - 13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: M D P I AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036028
2019
Conference Publication
Allicin and yield: are they friends or enemies?
Nguyen, Binh, Wehr, Bernhard, O'Hare, Timothy, Hong, Hung Trieu, Menzies, Neal and Harper, Stephen (2019). Allicin and yield: are they friends or enemies?. TropAg2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11-13 November 2019.
2018
Journal Article
Management of the major chemical soil constraints affecting yields in the grain growing region of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia – a review
Page, K. L., Dalal, R. C., Wehr, J. B., Dang, Y. P., Kopittke, P. M., Kirchhof, G., Fujinuma, R. and Menzies, N. W. (2018). Management of the major chemical soil constraints affecting yields in the grain growing region of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia – a review. Soil Research, 56 (8), 765-779. doi: 10.1071/sr18233
2018
Other Outputs
Effect of NatraMin on soil physical, chemical and biological properties
Wehr, Bernhard (2018). Effect of NatraMin on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Innovation Connections Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland.
2017
Other Outputs
Effect of palagonite on soil properties and plant growth
Wehr, Bernhard (2017). Effect of palagonite on soil properties and plant growth. Innovation Connections Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland.
2017
Other Outputs
Investigation into vegetation die-off at the black-breasted button quail habitat at QAL Gladstone
Wehr, Bernhard (2017). Investigation into vegetation die-off at the black-breasted button quail habitat at QAL Gladstone. Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland.
2017
Book Chapter
Aluminum
Wehr, Johannes Bernhard, Blamey, Frederick Paxton Cardell and Menzies, Neal William (2017). Aluminum. Encyclopedia of Soil Science. (pp. 105-110) edited by R. Lal. Boca Raton, FL United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1081/E-ESS3-120025114
2017
Journal Article
Influence of soil characteristics on teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) establishment and early growth in tropical Northern Australia
Wehr, J. Bernhard, Smith, Tim E. and Menzies, Neal W. (2017). Influence of soil characteristics on teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) establishment and early growth in tropical Northern Australia. Journal of Forest Research, 22 (3), 153-159. doi: 10.1080/13416979.2017.1283976
2017
Conference Publication
Soil sodicity – a threat to agricultural sustainability in semi-arid tropics
Niaz, Sara, Dalal, Ram C., Kopittke, Peter M., Wehr, J. B. and Menzies, Neal W. (2017). Soil sodicity – a threat to agricultural sustainability in semi-arid tropics. TropAg2017, Brisbane, Australia, 20-22 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Effect of NatraMin soil conditioner on physical, chemical and biological soil properties in a glasshouse trial
Choong, Jie Sheng, Wehr, Bernhard, Fujinuma, Ryo and Martinez, Cristina (2017). Effect of NatraMin soil conditioner on physical, chemical and biological soil properties in a glasshouse trial. TropAg2017, Brisbane, 22-22 Nov 2017.
2017
Book Chapter
Aluminum
Wehr, Johannes Bernhard, Blamey, Frederick Paxton Cardell and Menzies, Neal William (2017). Aluminum. Encyclopaedia of soil science. (pp. 105-110) edited by Lal Rattan. New York, United States: CRC Press (Taylor and Francis).
2016
Journal Article
Aluminium effects on mechanical properties of cell wall analogues
McKenna, Brigid A., Wehr, J. Bernhard, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Blamey, F. Pax C. and Menzies, Neal W. (2016). Aluminium effects on mechanical properties of cell wall analogues. Physiologia Plantarum, 158 (4), 382-388. doi: 10.1111/ppl.12472
2016
Journal Article
Ferric minerals and organic matter change arsenic speciation in copper mine tailings
Wang, Peng, Liu, Yunjia, Menzies, Neal W., Wehr, J. Bernhard, de Jonge, Martin D., Howard, Daryl L., Kopittke, Peter M. and Huang, Longbin (2016). Ferric minerals and organic matter change arsenic speciation in copper mine tailings. Environmental Pollution, 218, 835-843. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.007
2016
Journal Article
Germination of leucaena and Rhodes grass seeds in saline and alkaline conditions
Wehr, J. B., Kopittke, P. M., Dalzell, S. A. and Menzies, N. W. (2016). Germination of leucaena and Rhodes grass seeds in saline and alkaline conditions. Seed Science and Technology, 44 (3), 1-14. doi: 10.15258/sst.2016.44.3.06
2016
Other Outputs
Land amendment irrigation Phase III. Final Report. Santos-UQ Large core project.
Wehr, J.B., Kopittke, P.M. and Menzies, N.W. (2016). Land amendment irrigation Phase III. Final Report. Santos-UQ Large core project.. Brisbane, Australia:
2016
Journal Article
Conversion of sub-tropical native vegetation to introduced conifer forest: impacts on below-ground and above-ground carbon pools
Lewis, Tom, Smith, Timothy E., Hogg, Bruce, Swift, Scott, Verstraten, Luke, Bryant, Phillipa, Wehr, Bernhard J., Tindale, Neil, Menzies, Neal W and Dalal, Ram C. (2016). Conversion of sub-tropical native vegetation to introduced conifer forest: impacts on below-ground and above-ground carbon pools. Forest Ecology and Management, 370, 65-75. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.03.058
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
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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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