|
 HOME
ABOUT OUR CENTRE
OUR PEOPLE
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
RESEARCH DEGREES
COURSEWORK PROGRAMS
PROFESSIONAL COURSES
SUSTAINABLE MINERALS
INSTITUTE
CONTACT US
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
my.UQ
UQ STAFF
RESEARCH SOLUTIONS
UQ NEWS ONLINE
|
|
| |
Peter
Kopittke |
| |
|
| Position |
PhD Scholar |
|
|
| E-mail |
p.kopittke@cmlr.uq.edu.au |
|
|
| Phone/Fax |
(P) +61 7 3365 7341
(F) +61 7 3365 3452 |
| |
|
| Topic |
Investigating the factors that limit plant root growth in highly saline and alkaline bauxite
residues. |
| |
|
| Project Outline |
Approximately 35 million tonnes of bauxite residue is produced worldwide annually. This bauxite residue is extremely hostile to plant growth, having a pH of approximately 10-12 and an electrical conductivity (EC) of between 60-350 mS/cm. While there is a general acceptance that chemical conditions such the high pH and high Na levels encountered in bauxite residue may damage plant roots there is little understanding of the cause of the problem.
Some of the currently research being conducted includes investigating:
1) The direct effect of high pH on root growth,
2) The effect of high Na and high Mg concentrations on Ca uptake,
3) Nutrient availability and changes in pH in the rhizosphere, and
4) Root distribution patterns as effected by various soil capping techniques.
|
|