My research focusses on soil health in cropping and pasture systems, specialising in soil carbon and soil organic matter dynamics, microbial ecology, and plant-soil interactions. I am interested in how agronomic interventions impact soil health and in developing methods to reverse soil fertility decline and build healthier, more productive soils. This includes understanding the impacts of tillage, cover cropping, crop rotational diversity, nutrient management, and organic amendments on soil functional processes and crop development and productivity.
I have extensive experience in designing and analyzing field and glasshouse experiments and implementing advanced statistical models using R. I have excellent verbal and written communication skills, maintain positive relationships with collaborators both nationally and internationally, and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Journal Article: Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental factors and their influence on germination performance of Australian native species
Beveridge, Fernanda C., Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Dayananda, Buddhi and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental factors and their influence on germination performance of Australian native species. Seed Science Research, 1-16. doi: 10.1017/s0960258523000235
Journal Article: Environmental effects during early life-history stages and seed development on seed functional traits of an Australian native legume species
Beveridge, Fernanda C., Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Haque, Mirza M. and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Environmental effects during early life-history stages and seed development on seed functional traits of an Australian native legume species. Biology, 13 (3) 148. doi: 10.3390/biology13030148
Journal Article: Cover crop functional types alter soil nematode community composition and structure in dryland crop-fallow rotations
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim, Stirling, Graham R., Stirling, A. Marcelle and Williams, Alwyn (2024). Cover crop functional types alter soil nematode community composition and structure in dryland crop-fallow rotations. Applied Soil Ecology, 194 105196, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105196
Utilising novel Pongamia trees to decarbonise Australia's beef value-chain
(2024–2027) ARC Linkage Projects
(2022–2026) Grains Research & Development Corporation
(2022–2026) Northern Australia Crop Research Alliance Pty Ltd
Managing nitrogen in Ord valley irrigated cropping
Doctor Philosophy
Cover cropping in drylands for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of different crop residues affecting soil nutrient stratification, soil moisture dynamics and crop productivity under no-till agriculture systems
Doctor Philosophy
Supporting sustainable diversification of Ord River Irrigation Area cropping system
A PhD project is available with The University of Queensland and the Northern Australia Crop Research Alliance (NACRA) as part of the CRC for Developing Northern Australia. The PhD would spend significant time in Kununurra, WA, working with NACRA, WA DPIRD, and local growers to conduct cropping systems research. Potential avenues of PhD research include improving nitrogen management, investigating the feasibility of cover cropping, and exploring cropping system effects on soil health. Major crops in the systems include cotton, maize, and grain legumes. The student will need to successfully obtain a UQ Graduate School Scholarship, and a stipend top-up will also be provided through the project grant. Potential applicants will require either an Honours or Masters level qualification with competitive GPA to attract a UQ Scholarship. Please contact Alwyn Williams (alwyn.williams@uq.edu.au) for more information.
Promoting soil health in Australian cropping systems
Soil health in Australian cropping systems is declining, undermining long-term production potential. Ongoing research opportunities are available to investigate soil health-related issues, ranging from soil fertility and soil organic matter turnover dynamics, soil carbon, novel cropping practices (including methods of ecological intensification, e.g., cover cropping, intercropping, and increasing crop rotational diversity), soil-crop nutrient management (including impacts of contrasting fertiliser strategies as well as use of organic amendments), and analysis of soil biota and plant-soil interactions. Students with a strong GPA are welcome to contact Alwyn to discuss project opportunities.
Decline in soil fertility and biological diversity
Williams, Alwyn , Dalal, Ram and Hedlund, Katarina (2022). Decline in soil fertility and biological diversity. Soil constraints on crop production. (pp. 267-292) edited by Yash Dang, Neal Menzies and Ram Dalal. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Resilient and dynamic soil biology
Williams, Alwyn, van der Bom, Frederik and Young, Anthony J. (2020). Resilient and dynamic soil biology. No-till farming systems for sustainable agriculture: challenges and opportunities. (pp. 251-266) edited by Yash P. Dang, Ram C. Dalal and Neal W. Menzies. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-46409-7_15
Beveridge, Fernanda C., Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Dayananda, Buddhi and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental factors and their influence on germination performance of Australian native species. Seed Science Research, 1-16. doi: 10.1017/s0960258523000235
Beveridge, Fernanda C., Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Haque, Mirza M. and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Environmental effects during early life-history stages and seed development on seed functional traits of an Australian native legume species. Biology, 13 (3) 148. doi: 10.3390/biology13030148
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim, Stirling, Graham R., Stirling, A. Marcelle and Williams, Alwyn (2024). Cover crop functional types alter soil nematode community composition and structure in dryland crop-fallow rotations. Applied Soil Ecology, 194 105196, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105196
Garba, Ismail I., Bell, Lindsay W., Chauhan, Bhagirath S. and Williams, Alwyn (2024). Optimizing ecosystem function multifunctionality with cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes in dryland cropping systems. Agricultural Systems, 214 103821, 103821. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103821
Garba, Ismail I., Bell, Lindsay W., Chapman, Scott, deVoil, Peter, Kamara, Alpha Y. and Williams, Alwyn (2023). Modelling the impacts of diverse cover crops on soil water and nitrogen and cash crop yields in a sub-tropical dryland. Field Crops Research, 301 109019, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109019
Drought stress affects the reproductive biology of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana
Ali, Mohammad, Williams, Alwyn, Widderick, Michael, Haque, Mohammad Anamul and Adkins, Steve (2023). Drought stress affects the reproductive biology of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana. Land, 12 (9) 1745, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/land12091745
Phosphorus management is key to effective deployment of root ideotypes in complex soil environments
van der Bom, Frederik J. T., Williams, Alwyn, Borrell, Andrew K., Raymond, Nelly and Bell, Michael J. (2023). Phosphorus management is key to effective deployment of root ideotypes in complex soil environments. Plant and Soil, 489 (1-2), 323-340. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-06020-8
van der Bom, Frederik, Williams, Alwyn, Raymond, Nelly, Sulman, Richard, McLean, Greg and Bell, Michael (2023). Spatio-temporal distribution of water and phosphorus determine growth of sorghum genotypes with contrasting nodal root angle. Plant and Soil, 1-18. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-06073-9
Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.): An Emerging Weed in the Sweet Corn–Brassica Cropping System
Saifullah, Khaled, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve (2023). Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.): An Emerging Weed in the Sweet Corn–Brassica Cropping System. Agronomy, 13 (5) 1430, 1430. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13051430
Beveridge, Fernanda Caro, Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian and Adkins, Steve W. (2023). Seed morpho-anatomy and germination enhancement of the Australian native species Lomandra longifolia Labill. and L. hystrix (R.Br.) L.R. Fraser & Vickery. Applied Biosciences, 2 (2), 222-235. doi: 10.3390/applbiosci2020016
van der Bom, Frederik J. T., Williams, Alwyn, Raymond, Nelly S., Alahmad, Samir, Hickey, Lee T., Singh, Vijaya and Bell, Michael J. (2023). Root angle, phosphorus, and water: Interactions and effects on durum wheat genotype performance in drought-prone environments. Plant and Soil. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-05966-z
Elevated temperature affects Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana reproductive biology
Ali, Mohammad, Williams, Alwyn, Widderick, Michael and Adkins, Steve (2023). Elevated temperature affects Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana reproductive biology. Agronomy, 13 (2) 474, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13020474
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2023). Datasets supporting the adoption of multifunctional cover crops related to soil water and nitrogen in water-limited environments. Data in Brief, 46 108841, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2022.108841
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2023). Integrating diverse cover crops for fallow replacement in a subtropical dryland: implications on subsequent cash crop yield, grain quality, and gross margins. Agronomy, 13 (1) 271, 271. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13010271
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim, Fay, Daniel, Apriani, Reni, Yusof, Dk Yusrina Pg, Chu, Danqing and Williams, Alwyn (2022). Fallow replacement cover crops impact soil water and nitrogen dynamics in a semi-arid sub-tropical environment. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 338 108052, 108052. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2022.108052
Williams, Alwyn, Birt, Henry W. G., Raghavendra, Anil and Dennis, Paul G. (2022). Cropping system diversification influences soil microbial diversity in subtropical dryland farming systems. Microbial Ecology, 85 (4), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s00248-022-02074-w
Ali, Mohammad, Suthar, Premal C., Williams, Alwyn, Michael Widderick and Adkins, Steve W. (2022). Germination behaviour of Avena sterilis subsp. ludoviciana under a range of light and temperature regimes. Crop and Pasture Science, 73 (12), 1395-1405. doi: 10.1071/CP22074
Garba, Ismail I., Bell, Lindsay W. and Williams, Alwyn (2022). Cover crop legacy impacts on soil water and nitrogen dynamics, and on subsequent crop yields in drylands: a meta-analysis. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 42 (3) 34. doi: 10.1007/s13593-022-00760-0
Lwin, D. S., Williams, A., Barber, D. E., Benvenutti, M. A., Williams, B., Poppi, D. P. and Harper, K. J. (2022). Comparison of equations to predict the metabolisable energy content as applied to the vertical strata and plant parts of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Animal Production Science, 62 (11), 1006-1013. doi: 10.1071/an21510
Williams, Alwyn, Kay, Phillip, Stirling, Graham, Weng, Xinting and Bell, Lindsay (2022). Impacts of reducing fallow periods on indicators of soil function in subtropical dryland farming systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 324 107727, 107727. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2021.107727
Peerzada, Arslan M., Williams, Alwyn, O'Donnell, Chris and Adkins, Steve W. (2021). Effect of elevated temperature on growth and glyphosate susceptibility of Chloris truncata R.Br., Sonchus oleraceus L., and Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronq. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 69 (3), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/03650340.2021.1994953
Peerzada, Arslan Masood, Williams, Alwyn, O’Donnell, Chris and Adkins, Steve (2021). Effect of soil moisture regimes on the glyphosate sensitivity and morpho-physiological traits of windmill grass (Chloris truncata R.Br.), common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.), and flaxleaf fleabane [Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronq.]. Plants, 10 (11) 2345, 2345. doi: 10.3390/plants10112345
Azizan, Fathin Ayuni, Astuti, Ike Sari, Aditya, Mohammad Irvan, Febbiyanti, Tri Rapani, Williams, Alwyn, Young, Anthony and Abdul Aziz, Ammar (2021). Using multi-temporal satellite data to analyse phenological responses of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) to climatic variations in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Remote Sensing, 13 (15) 2932, 2932. doi: 10.3390/rs13152932
Root architecture for improved resource capture: trade-offs in complex environments
van der Bom, Frederik J. T., Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael J. (2020). Root architecture for improved resource capture: trade-offs in complex environments. Journal of Experimental Botany, 71 (19), 5752-5763. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eraa324
Assessing yield and yield stability of Hevea clones in the southern and central regions of Malaysia
Ali, Muhammad Fadzli, Abdul Aziz, Ammar and Williams, Alwyn (2020). Assessing yield and yield stability of Hevea clones in the southern and central regions of Malaysia. Agronomy, 10 (5) 643, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/agronomy10050643
Jilling, Andrea, Kane, Daniel, Williams, Alwyn, Yannarell, Anthony C., Davis, Adam, Jordan, Nicholas R., Mortensen, David A., Smith, Richard G., Snapp, Sieglinde S., Spokas, Kurt A. and Grandy, A. Stuart (2020). Rapid and distinct responses of particulate and mineral-associated organic nitrogen to conservation tillage and cover crops. Geoderma, 359 114001, 114001. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.114001
Seed enhancement technologies to improve germination and emergence of Australian native Poaceae
Beveridge, Fernanda Caro, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve W. (2020). Seed enhancement technologies to improve germination and emergence of Australian native Poaceae. Seed Science Research, 30 (4), 1-11. doi: 10.1017/s0960258520000276
Seed enhancement of Australian native species to improve seed-based restoration
Beveridge, Fernanda Caro, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve (2019). Seed enhancement of Australian native species to improve seed-based restoration. Australasian Plant Conservation: journal of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation, 27 (4), 11-13. doi: 10.5962/p.373776
Confronting herbicide resistance with cooperative management
Evans, Jeffrey A., Williams, Alwyn, Hager, Aaron G., Mirsky, Steven B., Tranel, Patrick J. and Davis, Adam S. (2018). Confronting herbicide resistance with cooperative management. Pest Management Science, 74 (11), 2424-2431. doi: 10.1002/ps.5105
Williams, Alwyn, Jordan, Nicholas R., Smith, Richard G., Hunter, Mitchell C., Kammerer, Melanie, Kane, Daniel A., Koide, Roger T. and Davis, Adam S. (2018). A regionally-adapted implementation of conservation agriculture delivers rapid improvements to soil properties associated with crop yield stability. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 8467, 8467. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26896-2
A framework to identify indicator species for ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes
Birkhofer, Klaus, Rusch, Adrien, Andersson, Georg K.S., Bommarco, Riccardo, Dänhardt, Juliana, Ekbom, Barbara, Jönsson, Annelie, Lindborg, Regina, Olsson, Ola, Rader, Romina, Stjernman, Martin, Williams, Alwyn, Hedlund, Katarina and Smith, Henrik G. (2018). A framework to identify indicator species for ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. Ecological Indicators, 91, 278-286. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.018
Williams, Alwyn, Scott Wells, M., Dickey, David A., Hu, Shuijin, Maul, Jude, Raskin, Daniel T., Chris Reberg-Horton, S. and Mirsky, Steven B. (2018). Establishing the relationship of soil nitrogen immobilization to cereal rye residues in a mulched system. Plant and Soil, 426 (1-2), 95-107. doi: 10.1007/s11104-018-3566-0
Birkhofer, Klaus, Andersson, Georg K. S., Bengtsson, Janne, Bommarco, Riccardo, Danhardt, Juliana, Ekbom, Barbara, Ekroos, Johan, Hahn, Thomas, Hedlund, Katarina, Jonsson, Annelie M., Lindborg, Regina, Olsson, Ola, Rader, Romina, Rusch, Adrien, Stjernman, Martin, Williams, Alwyn and Smith, Henrik G. (2018). Relationships between multiple biodiversity components and ecosystem services along a landscape complexity gradient. Biological Conservation, 218, 247-253. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.12.027
A cooperative governance network for crop genome editing
Jordan, Nicholas R., Dorn, Kevin M., Smith, Timothy M., Wolf, Katie E., Ewing, Patrick M., Fernandez, Adria L., Runck, Bryan C., Williams, Alwyn, Lu, You and Kuzma, Jennifer (2017). A cooperative governance network for crop genome editing. Embo Reports, 18 (10), 1683-1687. doi: 10.15252/embr.201744394
Manoharan, Lokeshwaran, Rosenstock, Nicholas P., Williams, Alwyn and Hedlund, Katarina (2017). Agricultural management practices influence AMF diversity and community composition with cascading effects on plant productivity. Applied Soil Ecology, 115, 53-59. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.03.012
Wallace, John M., Williams, Alwyn, Liebert, Jeffrey A., Ackroyd, Victoria J., Vann, Rachel A., Curran, William S., Keene, Clair L., VanGessel, Mark J., Ryan, Matthew R. and Mirsky, Steven B. (2017). Cover crop-based, organic rotational no-till corn and soybean production systems in the mid-atlantic United States. Agriculture-Basel, 7 (4) 34, 34. doi: 10.3390/agriculture7040034
Reconciling opposing soil processes in row-crop agroecosystems via soil functional zone management
Williams, Alwyn, Davis, Adam S., Jilling, Andrea, Grandy, A. Stuart, Koide, Roger T., Mortensen, David A., Smith, Richard G., Snapp, Sieglinde S., Spokas, Kurt A., Yannarell, Anthony C. and Jordan, Nicholas R. (2017). Reconciling opposing soil processes in row-crop agroecosystems via soil functional zone management. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 236, 99-107. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2016.11.012
Williams, Alwyn, Manoharan, Lokeshwaran, Rosenstock, Nicholas P., Olsson, Pal Axel and Hedlund, Katarina (2017). Long-term agricultural fertilization alters arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition and barley (Hordeum vulgare) mycorrhizal carbon and phosphorus exchange. New Phytologist, 213 (2), 874-885. doi: 10.1111/nph.14196
Precision control of soil nitrogen cycling via soil functional zone management
Williams, Alwyn, Davis, Adam S., Ewing, Patrick M., Grandy, A. Stuart, Kane, Daniel A., Koide, Roger T., Mortensen, David A., Smith, Richard G., Snapp, Sieglinde S., Spokas, Kurt A., Yannarell, Anthony C. and Jordan, Nicholas R. (2016). Precision control of soil nitrogen cycling via soil functional zone management. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 231, 291-295. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2016.07.010
Williams, Alwyn, Hunter, Mitchell C., Kammerer, Melanie, Kane, Daniel A., Jordan, Nicholas R., Mortensen, David A., Smith, Richard G., Snapp, Sieglinde and Davis, Adam S. (2016). Soil water holding capacity mitigates downside risk and volatility in US rainfed maize: time to invest in soil organic matter?. PLoS One, 11 (8) e0160974, e0160974. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160974
Williams, Alwyn, Davis, Adam S., Ewing, Patrick M., Grandy, A. Stuart, Kane, Daniel A., Koide, Roger T., Mortensen, David A., Smith, Richard G., Snapp, Sieglinde S., Spokas, Kurt A., Yannarell, Anthony C. and Jordan, Nicholas R. (2016). A comparison of soil hydrothermal properties in zonal and uniform tillage systems across the US Corn Belt. Geoderma, 273, 12-19. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.03.010
Williams, Alwyn, Kane, Daniel A., Ewing, Patrick M., Atwood, Lesley W., Jilling, Andrea, Li, Meng, Lou, Yi, Davis, Adam S., Grandy, A. Stuart, Huerd, Sheri C., Hunter, Mitchell C., Koide, Roger T., Mortensen, David A., Smith, Richard G., Snapp, Sieglinde S., Spokas, Kurt A., Yannarell, Anthony C. and Jordan, Nicholas R. (2016). Soil functional zone management: a vehicle for enhancing production and soil ecosystem services in row-crop agroecosystems. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7 (FEB2016) 65. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00065
Enhanced control of soil nitrogen cycling through soil functional zone management
Williams, Alwyn, Ewing, Patrick M., Jordan, Nicholas R., Davis, Adam S., Grandy, A. Stuart, Smith, Richard G., Kane, Daniel A., Snapp, Sieglinde S., Koide, Roger T., Mortensen, David A., Spokas, Kurt A. and Yannarell, Anthony C. (2016). Enhanced control of soil nitrogen cycling through soil functional zone management. Plant Genome, 49 (6), 42-45. doi: 10.2134/CS2016-49-0602
Sustainable commercialization of new crops for the agricultural bioeconomy
Jordan, N. R., Dorn, K., Runck, B., Ewing, P., Williams, A., Anderson, K. A., Felice, L., Haralson, K., Goplen, J., Altendorf, K., Fernandez, A., Phippen, W., Sedbrook, J., Marks, M., Wolf, K., Wyse, D. and Johnson, G. (2016). Sustainable commercialization of new crops for the agricultural bioeconomy. Elementa: science of the anthropocene, 2016 (4) 000081, 000081-10. doi: 10.12952/journal.elementa.000081
Albizua, Amaia, Williams, Alwyn, Hedlund, Katarina and Pascual, Unai P (2015). Crop rotations including ley and manure can promote ecosystem services in conventional farming systems. Applied Soil Ecology, 95, 54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.06.003
Williams, Alwyn and Hedlund, Katarina (2014). Indicators and trade-offs of ecosystem services in agricultural soils along a landscape heterogeneity gradient. Applied Soil Ecology, 77, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2014.01.001
Williams, Alwyn, Birkhofer, Klaus and Hedlund, Katarina (2014). Above- and below-ground interactions with agricultural management: effects of soil microbial communities on barley and aphids. Pedobiologia, 57 (2), 67-74. doi: 10.1016/j.pedobi.2014.01.004
Williams, Alwyn, Borjesson, Gunnar and Hedlund, Katarina (2013). The effects of 55 years of different inorganic fertiliser regimes on soil properties and microbial community composition. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 67, 41-46. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.08.008
Williams, Alwyn, Ridgway, Hayley J. and Norton, David A. (2013). Different arbuscular mycorrhizae and competition with an exotic grass affect the growth of Podocarpus cunninghamii Colenso cuttings. New Forests, 44 (2), 183-195. doi: 10.1007/s11056-012-9309-9
Williams, Alwyn and Hedlund, Katarina (2013). Indicators of soil ecosystem services in conventional and organic arable fields along a gradient of landscape heterogeneity in southern Sweden. Applied Soil Ecology, 65, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2012.12.019
Williams, A., Norton, D. A. and Ridgway, H. J. (2012). Different arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculants affect the growth andsurvival of Podocarpus cunninghamii restoration plantings in the Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 50 (4), 473-479. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2012.672429
Williams, Alwyn and Norton, David A. (2012). Estimating carbon stocks in stands of Podocarpus cunninghamii in the eastern South Island high country of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 42, 29-38.
Williams, Alwyn, Ridgway, Hayley J. and Norton, David A. (2011). Growth and competitiveness of the New Zealand tree species Podocarpus cunninghamii is reduced by ex-agricultural AMF but enhanced by forest AMF. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 43 (2), 339-345. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.10.021
Williams, Alwyn (2010). Current nursery practice with regard to mycorrhizae and the propagation of New Zealand's native plants. Ecological Management and Restoration, 11 (3), 220-223. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-8903.2010.00557.x
Caro Beveridge, Fernanda, Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundar and Adkins, Steve (2023). Post-anthesis maternal environmental effects on seed traits of the native Australian grass Heteropogon contortus. 10th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Darwin, NT Australia, 26-30 September 2023.
Caro Beveridge, Fernanda, Williams, Alwyn, Cave, Robyn, Kalaipandian, Sundar and Adkins, Steve (2023). Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental stressors and their influence on seed germination of Australian native species. 14th Biennial ISSS Conference: Seed science in a changing world, Paris, France, 3-7 July 2023.
Trait-based design of multifunctional cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2022). Trait-based design of multifunctional cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes. International Tropical Agriculture conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2022). Modelling long-term impact of diverse cover crops in dryland on fallow efficiency and soil nitrogen dynamics. XVIIth Congress of the European Society for Agronomy, Potsdam, Germany, 29 August - 2 September 2022.
Fate of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana seeds under different burial depths and wheat residue loads
Ali, Mohammad, Williams, Alwyn, Widderick, Michael and Adkins, Steve W. (2022). Fate of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana seeds under different burial depths and wheat residue loads . System Solutions for Complex Problems, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
Mungbean responses to elevated day- and night-time temperatures
Williams, Alwyn, Wenham, Kylie, Smith, Millicent, Rachaputi, R. C. N. and Collins, Marisa (2022). Mungbean responses to elevated day- and night-time temperatures. System Solutions for Complex Problems, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
Winter cover crop biomass production and water use in southeast Queensland
Garba, I. I., Apriani, R., Chu, D., Pg Yusof, D. Y. and Williams, A. (2022). Winter cover crop biomass production and water use in southeast Queensland. System Solutions for Complex Problems, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
Wang, Ke, Williams, Alwyn and Young, Anthony (2022). Controlled traffic and wider row spacing reduces the incidence of Chlorotic Streak Disease (CSD) in sugarcane seedbeds in subtropical Australia. System Solutions for Complex Problems, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
Impacts of strategic tillage in a no-tillage conservation cropping system on wild oats population
Ali, Mohammad, Xu, Sijia, Widderick, Michael, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve (2022). Impacts of strategic tillage in a no-tillage conservation cropping system on wild oats population. Australasian Weeds Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 25-29 September 2022. Adelaide, SA, Australia: CAWS - Council of Australasian Weed Societies and the Weed Management Society of South Australia.
Interaction between root architecture, soil moisture and phosphorus placement on cereal productivity
van der Bom, Frederik, Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael (2022). Interaction between root architecture, soil moisture and phosphorus placement on cereal productivity. System Solutions for Complex Problems, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 18-22 September 2022. Toowoomba, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.
Peerzada, Arslan Masood, Williams, Alwyn, O'Donnell, Chris and Adkins, Steve (2022). Interactive effect of high temperature and reduced soil moisture availability on the morpho-physiological traits and glyphosate susceptibility of windmill grass (Chloris truncata R.Br.). Australasian Weeds Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 25-29 September 2022. Adelaide, SA, Australia: CAWS - Council of Australasian Weed Societies and the Weed Management Society of South Australia.
Beveridge, F.C., Williams, A., Cave, R. and Adkins, S.W. (2021). Germination enhancement of Australian native species Lomandra longifolia and Lomandra hystrix using different mechanical and chemical treatments. SERA 2021, Darwin, NT Australia, 10-13 May 2021.
Williams, Alwyn, Farquharson, Ryan, Lawrence, David, Baldock, Jeff and Bell, Mike (2019). Estimating soil organic carbon under different land-use types in Australia’s northern grains region using mid-infrared spectroscopy. International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036141
Ali, Mohammad, Widderick, Michael, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve W. (2019). Impact of late season heat stress on the phenology and reproductive biology of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana. Cells to Satellites, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, 25-29 August 2019.
Ali, Mohammad, Widderick, Michael, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve (2019). Impact of soil water stress at seed development stage on phenology, fecundity and seed dormancy of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana. International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036001
Ali, Mohammad, Widderick, Michael, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve W. (2019). Phenology, fecundity and dormancy of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana from plants grown under late season soil water stress. 27th Asian Pacific Weed Science Society Conference, Kuching, Malaysia, 3-6 September 2019.
Promoting soil health in dryland agriculture by increasing cropping intensity
Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Lindsay W. (2019). Promoting soil health in dryland agriculture by increasing cropping intensity. 19th Australian Agronomy Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, 25-29 August 2019. Australian Society of Agronomy.
Enhancing seed-based restoration of Australian native species
Caro, Fernanda, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve (2018). Enhancing seed-based restoration of Australian native species. 2018 National Landcare Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 10-12 October 2018.
Ali, Mohammad, Williams, Alwyn, Widderick, Michael and Adkins, Steve (2018). Phenology and reproductive biology of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana as affected by late season heat stress. Pest Animal and Weed Symposium 2019, Sea World Resort Conference Centre, Gold Coast, Australia, 20-23 May 2019.
Seed enhancement of Australian native species to improve seed-based restoration outcomes
Caro, Fernanda, Williams, Alwyn and Adkins, Steve (2018). Seed enhancement of Australian native species to improve seed-based restoration outcomes. 12th Australasian Plant Conservation Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 11-15 November 2018.
Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael (2023). Maize trials. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/d6c64ea
Williams, Alwyn and Bell, Michael (2023). Chickpea trials. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8479e01
Garba, Ismail Ibrahim and Williams, Alwyn (2022). Datasets supporting the adoption of multifunctional cover crops related to soil water and nitrogen in water-limited environments. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8c41f39
Soil functional attribute data from Pampas, QLD 2017-2018
Williams, Alwyn , Kay, Phillip, Stirling, Graham, Weng, Xinting and Bell, Lindsay (2021). Soil functional attribute data from Pampas, QLD 2017-2018. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/e1f6e2b
Utilising novel Pongamia trees to decarbonise Australia's beef value-chain
(2024–2027) ARC Linkage Projects
(2022–2026) Grains Research & Development Corporation
(2022–2026) Northern Australia Crop Research Alliance Pty Ltd
(2022–2025) Soil Science Challenge
(2022) Innovation Connections
Crop health and nutrient management of shallot-chilli-rice cropping systems in coastal Indonesia
(2020–2026) Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Determine the role of ground pearls in pasture dieback
(2020–2024) Meat & Livestock Australia
Technical and data management support for NCR1907-001RTX
(2020–2023) Grains Research & Development Corporation
(2020–2022) University of Adelaide
Optimising mungbean yields - mungbean physiology
(2018–2024) Grains Research & Development Corporation
Postdoctoral Fellowship interfacing crop improvement and agronomy/nutrition programs
(2018–2022) Grains Research & Development Corporation
(2018) UQ Early Career Researcher
Managing nitrogen in Ord valley irrigated cropping
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Characterization of different crop residues affecting soil nutrient stratification, soil moisture dynamics and crop productivity under no-till agriculture systems
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Using stable isotope techniques to quantify the above and below-ground N contribution from legume residues to subsequent grain crops
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Carbon and Nitrogen cycling through diverse cover crop system
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Soil biology impacts on sustainability and productivity of high value vegetable cropping systems
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
WEED DYNAMICS IN A SWEET CORN-BRASSICA CROPPING SYSTEM: IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Determining the role of ground pearls in Pasture Dieback
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Interactions between seed functional traits and climate change in the Australian flora: implications for seed-based restoration
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Cover cropping in drylands for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2022) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Enhancing seed-based restoration in south-east Queensland using Australian native species
(2020) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
GLYPHOSATE EFFICACY UNDER PROJECTED CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACT ON THREE SUMMER FALLOW WEEDS OF AUSTRALIAN NORTHERN GRAIN REGION
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Supporting sustainable diversification of Ord River Irrigation Area cropping system
A PhD project is available with The University of Queensland and the Northern Australia Crop Research Alliance (NACRA) as part of the CRC for Developing Northern Australia. The PhD would spend significant time in Kununurra, WA, working with NACRA, WA DPIRD, and local growers to conduct cropping systems research. Potential avenues of PhD research include improving nitrogen management, investigating the feasibility of cover cropping, and exploring cropping system effects on soil health. Major crops in the systems include cotton, maize, and grain legumes. The student will need to successfully obtain a UQ Graduate School Scholarship, and a stipend top-up will also be provided through the project grant. Potential applicants will require either an Honours or Masters level qualification with competitive GPA to attract a UQ Scholarship. Please contact Alwyn Williams (alwyn.williams@uq.edu.au) for more information.
Promoting soil health in Australian cropping systems
Soil health in Australian cropping systems is declining, undermining long-term production potential. Ongoing research opportunities are available to investigate soil health-related issues, ranging from soil fertility and soil organic matter turnover dynamics, soil carbon, novel cropping practices (including methods of ecological intensification, e.g., cover cropping, intercropping, and increasing crop rotational diversity), soil-crop nutrient management (including impacts of contrasting fertiliser strategies as well as use of organic amendments), and analysis of soil biota and plant-soil interactions. Students with a strong GPA are welcome to contact Alwyn to discuss project opportunities.