Ailsa Hardie, University of Stellenbosch: Overview of Research in the Department of Soil Science

Overview of Researchat the Department of Soil ScienceUniversity of Stellenbosch, South

AfricaDr Ailsa G. Hardie

E-mail: [email protected]

Department of Soil ScienceUniversity of Stellenbosch

• 6 Academic staff members (4 lecturers and 2 researchers) and 6 support staff

• 20-25 Postgraduate students

• 12-25 Undergraduate students majoring in soil science (4-year BSc degree) annually

• Conduct fundamental and applied research in all major sub-disciplines of Soil Science, funded by NRF, WRC, Dept. Agriculture, Crop and fruit Research Trusts

Staff Member Area of Specialisation

Dr Eduard Hoffman (Chairperson, Senior Lecturer)

Soil Physics, Soil Water Management, Physical Preparation of Soils

Dr Willem de Clercq (Senior Researcher)

Modelling Soil Hydrology, Soil Salinity, Remote Sensing of Soils

Dr Andrei Rozanov (Senior Lecturer)

Soil Biology, Modelling Spatial Distribution of Soil Properties, Soil Information Systems, Soil Health

Dr Ailsa Hardie(Senior Lecturer)

Soil Chemistry and Soil Fertility, Soil Organic Matter Chemistry, Soil C sequestration, Soil Health, Soil Biochemistry

Dr Cathy Clarke (Lecturer)

Soil Classification and Mapping, Soil Geochemistry

Dr Anthony Mills (Researcher)

Soil Ecology, Soil C sequestration and Soil Rehabilitation

Research Facilities• Soil chemical analysis:

– pH, Electrical conductivity and redox meters– Flame AAS (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, Si)– ICP-OES and ICP-MS (All metals)– Ion chromatograph (Cl, NO2/3, PO4, F) – Dry combustion CNSH analyser – UV-Vis spectrophotometer (colorimetry)– XRF– TGA

• Soil physical analyses:– Soil moisture meters (neutron, capacitance, tensiometers)– Wet sieving apparatus for aggregate stability– Porometer– Pressure plates– Modulus of rupture– Particle size determination– BET specific surface area and microporosity

• Spectroscopy:– XRD– Liquid and solid state NMR– ESR– NIR and FTIR (including ATR-FTIR)– SEM and AFM– CT scanner– HPLC– LCMS

• Soil Microbiology– Staining and microscopy– Culturing– DNA sequencing

Soil Organic Matter Chemistry and Soil Quality Research Projects (Dr AG Hardie)

• Soil health (microbiological, chemical and physical properties) in Rooibos tea production compared to natural fynbos vegetation

• Organic fertilization of Rooibos tea

• Biochar amendment of sandy Cape Flats soils

• Characterisation of biochar produced from local biomass wastes for use as a soil amendment

• Biochar interactions with mineral nitrogen

Soil Organic Matter Chemistry and Soil Fertility Research Projects (Dr AG Hardie)

• Long-term effect of (rain-fed) tillage and crop/pasture rotation practices on soil organic matter functional pools (labile, intra-aggregate, stabile mineral-bound pools) and SOC stocks in W. Cape, SA

• Elucidation of soil carbon stabilization mechanisms in humic topsoils

Soil Hydrology Research Projects (Dr WP de Clercq)

• Modelling the effects of climate change on groundwater recharge in catchments in the W. Cape

• Dry-land salinization in the W. Cape in wheat production areas and use of indigenous fynbos vegetation to curb problem

• Introduction of scheduled irrigation practices, mulching and soil nutrient accounting to small-holder tomato farmers; Effect on yields, water productivity and net financial income

Soil Physics and Water Management Research Projects (Dr JE Hoffman)

• Long-term effect of tillage and crop/pasture rotation practices on soil water balance (run-off, evaporation, plant available soil water) and physical properties (bulk density, infiltration rate)

• Evaluation of biochar and other soil conditioning agents on soil water retention and movement, soil aggregation and crop root structure

• Optimization of irrigation scheduling for specific crop-climate-soil types (vines, apples, citrus, bananas, etc)

• Long-term monitoring of soil water in wetlands and groundwater in mountainous aquifers and catchment areas

Soil Physics and Water Management Research Projects (Dr JE Hoffman)

• Long term monitoring of water balance in natural wetlands in conservation areas

• Determination of geological links of aquifer with wetland

• Determination and modelling the effect of soil types and properties on groundwater recharge in natural ecosystems

Further information

• www.sun.ac.za/soil