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
2016
Journal Article
Growth and physiological responses of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) clones to Ca, H and Al stresses in solution and acid soils
Wehr, J. Bernhard, Blamey, F. Pax C., Smith, Tim E. and Menzies, Neal W. (2016). Growth and physiological responses of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) clones to Ca, H and Al stresses in solution and acid soils. New Forests, 48 (1), 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s11056-016-9560-6
2015
Other Outputs
Santos - UQ Large core project - Land amendment irrigation Phase III. Progress report 4
Wehr, Johannes B., Kopittke, Peter M. and Menzies, Neal W. (2015). Santos - UQ Large core project - Land amendment irrigation Phase III. Progress report 4. Brisbane, Australia:
2015
Other Outputs
The environmental fate of fluoride in coal seam water irrigation systems. Final Report
Wehr, J. Bernhard, Kopittke, Peter M., Scholz, Lisa and Menzies, Neal W. (2015). The environmental fate of fluoride in coal seam water irrigation systems. Final Report. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland.
2015
Other Outputs
Santos - UQ Large core project - Land amendment irrigation - Progress report 3
Wehr, Bernhard, Kopittke, Peter M. and Menzies, Neal W. (2015). Santos - UQ Large core project - Land amendment irrigation - Progress report 3. Brisbane, Australia: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland.
2015
Other Outputs
Assessing adsorption of fluoride from soil properties. Milestone Report 2
Wehr, Bernhard , Kopittke, Peter and Menzies, Neal (2015). Assessing adsorption of fluoride from soil properties. Milestone Report 2. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland.
2015
Journal Article
Use of Fluoride-Containing Water for the Irrigation of Soil - Plant Systems
Scholz, Lisa M., Kopittke, Peter M., Menzies, Neal W., Dalzell, Scott A., Macfarlane, David C. and Wehr, J. Bernhard (2015). Use of Fluoride-Containing Water for the Irrigation of Soil - Plant Systems. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 63 (19), 4737-4745. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01001
2015
Other Outputs
Review of macadamia orchard nutrition
Smith, Tim and Wehr, Bernhard (2015). Review of macadamia orchard nutrition. MC15012 Sydney, Australia: Horticulture Innovation Australia.
2015
Book Chapter
Aluminum
Blamey, F. Pax C., Kopittke, Peter M., Wehr, J. Bernhard and Menzies, Neal W. (2015). Aluminum. Handbook of Plant Nutrition. (pp. 567-606) edited by Allen V. Barker and David J. Pilbeam. Boca Raton Florida, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b18458-21
2014
Other Outputs
Understanding the movement of fluoride from soils into the broader ecosystem. Santos Ltd.
Wehr, Johannes B., Kopittke, Peter M., Scholz, Lisa and Menzies, Neal W. (2014). Understanding the movement of fluoride from soils into the broader ecosystem. Santos Ltd.. Brisbane, Australia:
2014
Other Outputs
Understanding the movement of fluoride from soils into the broader ecosystem - Final Report
Wehr, J. Bernhard, Kopittke, Peter M., Scholz, Lisa and Menzies, Neal W. (2014). Understanding the movement of fluoride from soils into the broader ecosystem - Final Report. Uniquest Project No: 00767 St Lucia, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences.
2014
Other Outputs
An assessment of the potential impacts of the overhead irrigation of saline and alkaline water on plant foliage. Santos Ltd.
Wehr, Johannes B., Menzies, Neal W., Steenhauer, Michiel and Kopittke, Peter M. (2014). An assessment of the potential impacts of the overhead irrigation of saline and alkaline water on plant foliage. Santos Ltd.. Brisbane, Australia:
2014
Other Outputs
Final Report - UQ Land conditioning intact soil core study
Wehr, Johannes B., Kopittke, Peter M. and Menzies, Neal W. (2014). Final Report - UQ Land conditioning intact soil core study. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences.
2014
Other Outputs
Milestone report 7: UQ land conditioning intact soil core study
Wehr, Bernhard, Kopittke, Peter and Menzies, Neal (2014). Milestone report 7: UQ land conditioning intact soil core study. Not available:
2014
Journal Article
Kinetics and mechanisms of cowpea root adaptation to changes in solution calcium
Blamey, F. Pax C., Wehr, J. Bernhard, Wang, Peng, Menzies, Neal W. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2014). Kinetics and mechanisms of cowpea root adaptation to changes in solution calcium. Plant and Soil, 379 (1-2), 301-314. doi: 10.1007/s11104-014-2065-1
2014
Other Outputs
Managing environmental risk of fluoride in coal seam water irrigation systems: final report
Wehr, Johannes B., Kopittke, Peter M., Scholz, Lisa and Menzies, Neal W. (2014). Managing environmental risk of fluoride in coal seam water irrigation systems: final report. Not available:
2014
Journal Article
The rhizotoxicity of metal cations is related to their strength of binding to hard ligands
Kopittke, Peter M., Menzies, Neal W., Wang, Peng, McKenna, Brigid A., Wehr, J. Bernhard, Lombi, Enzo, Kinraide, Thomas B. and Blamey, F. Pax C. (2014). The rhizotoxicity of metal cations is related to their strength of binding to hard ligands. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 33 (2), 268-277. doi: 10.1002/etc.2435
2014
Conference Publication
Environmental fate of fluoride applied to soil and plants
Wehr, J. Bernhard, Scholz, Lisa, Kopittke, Peter M. , Blamey, F. Pax C., Zhou, Ya-Feng, Macfarlane, David C. , Dalzell, Scott A. and Menzies, Neal W. (2014). Environmental fate of fluoride applied to soil and plants. World Congress of Soil Science, Jeju, Korea, 8-13 June 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Soil carbon change under exotic pine forests in the sub-tropics remeasured after 14 years - an excerpt from the reforestation in tropical and sub-tropical Australia project
Smith, Tim E., Lewis, Tom, Menzies, Neal W., Dalal, Ram C., Wehr, J. Bernhard, Swift, Scott A., Tindale, Neil, Bryant, Philippa, Verstraten, Luke, McDonald, Janet M., McKenna, Brigid A. and Simpson, John A. (2014). Soil carbon change under exotic pine forests in the sub-tropics remeasured after 14 years - an excerpt from the reforestation in tropical and sub-tropical Australia project. Soil Science 2014: National Soil Science Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 23 - 27 November 2014. Warragul, VIC, Australia: Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated.
2013
Other Outputs
Milestone report 6: UQ land conditioning intact soil core study
Wehr, Bernhard and Kopittke, Peter (2013). Milestone report 6: UQ land conditioning intact soil core study. Not available:
2013
Other Outputs
Solid phase sampling of large intact cores: UQ land conditioning intact soil core study
Wehr, Bernhard and Kopittke, Peter M. (2013). Solid phase sampling of large intact cores: UQ land conditioning intact soil core study. Not available:
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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