Overview
Background
Not only do soils provide humans with 98.8% of our food, they also provide humanity with a broad range of other services such as carbon storage and greenhouse gas regulation. However, soils are also the most complex ecosystem in the world – it is this complexity that forms the basis of Peter's research at The University of Queensland (UQ). As a Soil Scientist, Peter is actively involved in the management and conservation of soil; one of the basic elements which sustain life. Whilst soil takes hundreds or thousands of years to form, it can be destroyed in a matter of years if not managed correctly. The management and conservation of the soil-environment is arguably the biggest challenge we face as we move into the future. We need new ideas to solve the world’s problems.
The aim of Peter's research is to increase plant growth in soils that are degraded and infertile, both in Australia and developing countries. He has a demonstrated ability to lead outstanding research programs across a range of inter-connected themes, spanning in scale from fundamental research to landscape-scale projects, with this demonstrating a unique ability to link industry partners with high quality research. Peter's research spans the areas of agricultural production, water chemistry, and waste disposal, currently focusing on (i) the global development of advanced and novel methodologies for investigation of plants and soils, (ii) behaviour of nutrients, fertilizers, and carbon in soils, and (iii) plant growth in degraded soils.
Peter is Past President of Soil Science Australia (QLD), a former ARC Future Fellow, recipient of the JK Taylor Gold Medal in Soil Science (2018), and recipient of the CG Stephens Award in Soil Science (2005).
Availability
- Professor Peter Kopittke is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Behaviour of nutrients, fertilizers, and carbon in soils
My research is providing important insights into the behaviour and cycling of nutrients in soils. This includes the behaviour of fertilizers upon their addition to soils, as well as the long-term effects of agricultural cropping on the cycling and loss of nutrients from soils. For example, my research is currently investigating how to increase farmer’s profitability when using deep-banded P fertilizers in soils of northern Australia. This research is utilizing novel approaches for understanding how P behaves following its addition to a range of soils, including synchrotron-based approaches that are allowing in situ analyses of the P within the soil. Research within my group is also investigating soil organic carbon, with the storage of carbon in soils is vital for maintaining soil fertility for food production. Indeed, soil carbon is the largest pool of terrestrial carbon (ca. 2,000 Gt). My research is combining advanced spectroscopic techniques with conventional approaches to understand the mechanisms influencing the sequestration and degradation of soil organic matter and the cycling of associated nutrients. My group is one of the first in the world to utilize high-flux synchrotron radiation to examine the speciation and distribution of carbon in soil micro-aggregates.
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Plant growth in degraded soils
Plant-ion interactions underlie many problems currently facing Australia’s environmental and agricultural systems. My research aims to improve our understanding of plant-ion interactions, including: (i) managing saline soils and acid soils, in which either salts or Al toxicity reduce agricultural yields, (ii) regulation and management of sites contaminated with trace metals at levels which are potentially toxic to plants, and (iii) improving nutrient use efficiency in order to reduce nutrient losses and water pollution. In addition, the beneficial of wastes (or potential wastes) can potentially result in improved environmental, agronomic, and social outcomes. However, the addition of these resources should not result in significant net change in the environment beyond acceptable limits. Thus, for waste-disposal systems, there is a need to identify how potentially limiting factors (such as excess salt or nutrients) impact upon the soil-plant-animal continuum and hence ecosystem functioning. My research is leading studies of the environmental sustainability of the land-disposal of a variety of wastes.
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Leadership of the global development of advanced and novel methodologies for investigation of plants and soils
My international leadership in the development of spectroscopic techniques has led to important advances in the study of various elements in soils and plants. Indeed, I have led the development of novel and technically-advanced methods to examine ion distribution and speciation within plants and soils, including synchrotron-based techniques, NanoSIMS, and analytical electron microscopy. My leadership in this area is internationally-recognised, with this being evident from the international synchrotron facilities that I have utilised, being in the USA, Canada, France, Italy, and Thailand. Collaborating with Prof Enzo Lombi (University of South Australia), we were the first in the world to obtain a tomogram showing metal distribution in fresh, hydrated plant roots. We were also the first in the world to obtain laterally-resolved speciation of metal(loid)s in situ within hydrated plant tissues. These approaches have facilitated several important discoveries, including the identification of an underlying mechanism which accounts for the toxicities of a range of trace metals. I was the first to conclusively demonstrate the primary lesion of toxic Al – this being the primary limiting factor in the 40% of worldwide arable soils that are acidic. Our data showed that Al reduces root growth within 5 min by binding to the cell wall and inhibiting loosening in the elongation zone. I was also one of the first to use NanoSIMS for the investigation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in soil systems, with this providing novel insights into how C and N are stabilized within soils.
Works
Search Professor Peter Kopittke’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Investigating the foliar uptake of zinc from conventional and nano-formulations: a methodological study
Read, Thea L., Doolette, Casey L., Cresswell, Tom, Howell, Nicholas R., Aughterson, Robert, Karatchevtseva, Inna, Donner, Erica, Kopittke, Peter M., Schjoerring, Jan K. and Lombi, Enzo (2019). Investigating the foliar uptake of zinc from conventional and nano-formulations: a methodological study. Environmental Chemistry, 16 (6), 459-469. doi: 10.1071/en19019
2019
Journal Article
Minimizing experimental artefacts in synchrotron-based X-ray analyses of Fe speciation in tissues of rice plants
Wang, Peng, McKenna, Brigid A., Menzies, Neal W., Li, Cui, Glover, Chris J., Zhao, Fang-Jie and Kopittke, Peter M. (2019). Minimizing experimental artefacts in synchrotron-based X-ray analyses of Fe speciation in tissues of rice plants. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, 26 (4), 1272-1279. doi: 10.1107/s1600577519004351
2019
Journal Article
Cadmium contamination in agricultural soils of China and the impact on food safety
Wang, Peng, Chen, Hongping, Kopittke, Peter M. and Zhao, Fang-Jie (2019). Cadmium contamination in agricultural soils of China and the impact on food safety. Environmental Pollution, 249, 1038-1048. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.063
2019
Journal Article
Speciation and accumulation of Zn in sweetcorn kernels for genetic and agronomic biofortification programs
Cheah, Zhong Xiang, Kopittke, Peter M., Harper, Stephen M., Meyer, Gregor, O'Hare, Tim J. and Bell, Michael J. (2019). Speciation and accumulation of Zn in sweetcorn kernels for genetic and agronomic biofortification programs. Planta, 250 (1), 219-227. doi: 10.1007/s00425-019-03162-x
2019
Journal Article
Iron–manganese (oxyhydro)oxides, rather than oxidation of sulfides, determine mobilization of Cd during soil drainage in paddy soil systems
Wang, Jing, Wang, Ping-Mei, Gu, Yi, Kopittke, Peter M., Zhao, Fang-Jie and Wang, Peng (2019). Iron–manganese (oxyhydro)oxides, rather than oxidation of sulfides, determine mobilization of Cd during soil drainage in paddy soil systems. Environmental Science and Technology, 53 (5) acs.est.8b06863, 2500-2508. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06863
2019
Journal Article
Changes in soil chemistry after the application of gypsum and sulfur and irrigation with coal seam water
McKenna, Brigid A., Kopittke, Peter M., Macfarlane, David C., Dalzell, Scott A. and Menzies, Neal W. (2019). Changes in soil chemistry after the application of gypsum and sulfur and irrigation with coal seam water. Geoderma, 337, 782-791. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.019
2019
Journal Article
In situ analyses of inorganic nutrient distribution in sweetcorn and maize kernels using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy
Cheah, Zhong Xiang, Kopittke, Peter M., Harper, Stephen M., O’Hare, Tim J., Wang, Peng, Paterson, David J., de Jonge, Martin D. and Bell, Michael J. (2019). In situ analyses of inorganic nutrient distribution in sweetcorn and maize kernels using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy. Annals of Botany, 123 (3), 543-556. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcy189
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
Effects of pesticides on nitrous oxide production from sugarcane cropping soils
Das, Shilpi, Wang, W., Reeves, S., Dalal, Ram C. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2019). Effects of pesticides on nitrous oxide production from sugarcane cropping soils. TropAg 2019, Brisbane, Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036038
2019
Conference Publication
Transformation of phosphorus fertilizers applied as highly concentrated bands in agricultural soils
Meyer, Gregor, Bell, Michael J., Lombi, Enzo, Zhang, Yaqi and Kopittke, Peter M. (2019). Transformation of phosphorus fertilizers applied as highly concentrated bands in agricultural soils. 9th International Phosphorus Workshop (IPW), Zurich, Switzerland, 8-12 July 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Higher throughput and enhanced sensitivity is synchrotron biogeochemistry
Lombi, Enzo, Wang, Peng and Kopittke, Peter M. (2019). Higher throughput and enhanced sensitivity is synchrotron biogeochemistry. International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements (ICOBTE), Nanjing, China, 5-9 May 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Using nuclear techniques to investigate the plant uptake and mobility of foliar applied zinc
Doolette, Casey L., Read, Thea L., Cresswell, Tom, Howell, Nicholas R., Aughterson, Robert, Karatchevtseva, Inna, Donner, Erica, Kopittke, Peter M. and Schjoerring, Jan K. (2019). Using nuclear techniques to investigate the plant uptake and mobility of foliar applied zinc. ANSTO User Meeting 2019, Macquarie Park, Australia, 2-3 December 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Synchrotron techniques in environmental and agricultural science: the advantages of higher throughput and enhanced sensitivity
Lombi, Enzo, Doolette, Casey L., Wang, Peng and Kopittke, Peter M. (2019). Synchrotron techniques in environmental and agricultural science: the advantages of higher throughput and enhanced sensitivity. ANSTO User Meeting 2019, Macquarie Park, Australia, 2-3 December 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Understanding phosphorus behaviour in soils: the key to increasing its agronomic efficiency
Zhang, Yaqi, Dalal, Ram C., Meyer, Gregor, Smernik, Ron, Bhattacharyya, Ranjan, Wang, Peng, Menzies, Neal W. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2019). Understanding phosphorus behaviour in soils: the key to increasing its agronomic efficiency. 9th International Phosphorus Workshop (IPW), Zurich, Switzerland, 8-12 July 2019.
2019
Journal Article
Salinity decreases Cd translocation by altering Cd speciation in the halophytic Cd-accumulator Carpobrotus rossii
Cheng, Miaomiao, Kopittke, Peter M., Wang, Anan and Tang, Caixian (2019). Salinity decreases Cd translocation by altering Cd speciation in the halophytic Cd-accumulator Carpobrotus rossii. Annals of Botany, 123 (1), 121-132. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcy148
2019
Conference Publication
Development of a high-throughput method to screen plant mutant libraries using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (µ-XRF)
Wang, Peng, Chen, S., Lombi, Enzo, Zhao, F.J. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2019). Development of a high-throughput method to screen plant mutant libraries using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (µ-XRF). International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements (ICOBTE), Nanjing, China, 5-9 May 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Understanding the physiological basis for improved wheat seedling growth on dispersive sodic soils
Anzooman, Monia, Dang, Yash, Christopher, Jack , Kopittke, Peter and Menzies, Neal (2019). Understanding the physiological basis for improved wheat seedling growth on dispersive sodic soils. GRDC Grains Research Update , Goondiwindi, QLD, Australia, 5-6 March 2019. Sydney, NSW Australia: Grains Research Development Corporation.
2018
Journal Article
Differential gene expression in the model Actinomycete Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) supports nitrogen mining dependent on the plant carbon to nitrogen ratio
Finn, Damien, Catton, Kerrilyn, Heenan, Marijke, Kopittke, Peter, Ouwerkerk, Diane, Klieve, Athol and Dalal, Ram (2018). Differential gene expression in the model Actinomycete Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) supports nitrogen mining dependent on the plant carbon to nitrogen ratio. Agriculture, 8 (12) 192, 192. doi: 10.3390/agriculture8120192
2018
Journal Article
Time-resolved x-Ray fluorescence analysis of element distribution and concentration in living plants: an example using manganese toxicity in cowpea leaves
Blamey, F. Pax C., Paterson, David J., Walsh, Adam, Afshar, Nader, McKenna, Brigid A., Cheng, Miaomiao, Tang, Caixian, Horst, Walter J., Menzies, Neal W. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2018). Time-resolved x-Ray fluorescence analysis of element distribution and concentration in living plants: an example using manganese toxicity in cowpea leaves. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 156, 151-160. doi: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2018.09.002
2018
Journal Article
Absorption of foliar applied Zn is decreased in Zn deficient sunflower (Helianthus annuus) due to changes in leaf properties
Li, Cui, Wang, Peng, Lombi, Enzo, Wu, Jingtao, Blamey, F. Pax C., Fernández, Victoria, Howard, Daryl L., Menzies, Neal W. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2018). Absorption of foliar applied Zn is decreased in Zn deficient sunflower (Helianthus annuus) due to changes in leaf properties. Plant and Soil, 433 (1-2), 309-322. doi: 10.1007/s11104-018-3841-0
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Peter Kopittke is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter: Storage, Composition, and Responses to Land Use Change
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM, Dr Han Weng
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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
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Brigid McKenna, Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM, Dr Tim McLaren
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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Doctor Philosophy
Phosphorus in soils: Understanding changes in speciation and availability
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Brigid McKenna, Dr Chelsea Janke
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Doctor Philosophy
Mechanisms driving the persistence of soil organic matter
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding fertiliser interactions with soil
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Brigid McKenna, Dr Chelsea Janke
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Doctor Philosophy
Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter: Storage, Composition, and Responses to Land Use Change
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM, Dr Han Weng
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the mechanisms of general disease suppressiveness in organic fields
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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Doctor Philosophy
Impact of metal ions on acidic vegetable production soils.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper
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Doctor Philosophy
Genotypic responses of capsicum to copper toxicity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper
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Doctor Philosophy
Genotypic variation in Capsicum root growth to key constraints associated with acidic soils: Responses to H¿, Al³¿, and Ca²¿ in solution culture.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper
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Doctor Philosophy
Quantifying fertiliser phosphorus use efficiency in Vertosols across the Northern Region
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell, Dr Tim McLaren
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Doctor Philosophy
A mechanistic view of how phosphorus and carbon is sequestered in soil organic matter
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tim McLaren
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Doctor Philosophy
The chemical composition and dynamics of organic amendments to supply phosphorus for improved crop production
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tim McLaren
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Doctor Philosophy
Microbial diversity and function along a pH gradient
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jiarui Sun, Associate Professor Paul Dennis
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Doctor Philosophy
Soil fertility constraints to vegetable production on tropical upland acidic soils
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper
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Doctor Philosophy
Copper contamination and the response of vegetable species
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding phosphorus behaviour in soils
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the importance of the binding of toxic metals to plant cell walls
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Physiology of sensitivity and tolerance of crop plants to high manganese availability in the root environment
Principal Advisor
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2016
Master Philosophy
Revegetation of a highly saline-sodic evaporation pond soil
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Fate and behaviour of silver nanoparticles in terrestrial ecosystems
Joint Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of pesticides, nitrification inhibitors, lime, and copper on soil N transformations and nitrous oxide emissions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yash Dang, Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The amelioration of sodic soils with gypsum and organic amendments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM, Dr Bernhard Wehr
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Using within-field variability to assess the impact of soil sodicity on wheat yield in the northern grains-growing region of Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yash Dang
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of engineered nanomaterials on soil microbial diversity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Paul Dennis
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The role of primary producers in surface evolution of iron-rich duricrust (canga)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gordon Southam
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the physiological basis for improved wheat seedling growth on dispersive sodic soils
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yash Dang
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Tailoring Hydroxyapatite (HA) Nanoparticles as a Phosphorus (P) Fertiliser in Soils
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang
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2013
Master Philosophy
Nitrogen use efficiency of tomato: Role of root system morphological traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Harper
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Peter Kopittke directly for media enquiries about:
- Acid soils
- Agricultural food production
- Plant nutrition
- Soil chemistry
- Soil Science
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