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UWA Staff Profile
Dr W Richard Cookson
Adjunct Research Fellow
Contact details
| Address | Adjunct and Honorary Staff (Earth and Environment) The University of Western Australia (M087) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Fax | 6488 1050 |
| wcookson@cyllene.uwa.edu.au |
Biography
Previously, I have developed several land management strategies for the utilisation and application of crop residues and nitrogen fertiliser in agricultural systems in the Canterbury region in New Zealand. This research attempted to balance economic, social, environmental, and production objectives of the agricultural and wider community. Subsequently, it has lead to industry wide recommendations for nitrogen fertiliser rates which balance production and irrigation needs of ryegrass seed crops through the Foundation for Arable Research.
During 1999-2000 I was also involved in producing a sustainable management strategy for the use of winter cover crops or green manure crops. This research led to recommendations determining the times when green manure crops may be ploughed into the soil to minimise environmental impact.
During 1999-2000 I was also involved in producing a sustainable management strategy for the use of winter cover crops or green manure crops. This research led to recommendations determining the times when green manure crops may be ploughed into the soil to minimise environmental impact.
Key research
- Soil microbiology, microbial ecology, microbial diversity, nutrient cycling, nitrogen transformations
Major research interests
- Alternative farming systems
- Carbon cycling
- Microbial diversity
- Microbial ecology
- Microbial resilience
- Molecular techniques
- Nitrogen transformations
- Soil organic matter
- Stable isotope techniques
- Sustainable land management
Publications
Book chapters
Stockdale, E.A. and Cookson, W.R. 2003. Sustainable Farming Systems and Their Impact on Soil Biological Fertility – Some Case Studies. In: Soil Biological Fertility – A key to sustainable land use in agriculture. Eds. L.K. Abbott and D.V. Murphy. Kluwer Academic Publishers. (in press).
Journal articles
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 1997. Effects of nitrogen fertiliser on the irrigation requirements of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop. Journal of Applied Seed Production, 15: 95-98.
Cookson, W.R., Beare, M.H. and Wilson, P.E. 1998. Residue quality and management effects on microbial properties and crop residue decomposition. Applied Soil Ecology, 7:179-188.
Rowarth, J.S. Archie, W.J., Cookson, W.R., Hampton, J.G., Sanders, C.J., Silberstein, T.B. and Young III, W.C. 1999. The link between thousand seed weight, nitrogen concentration and seed vigour. Journal of Applied Seed Production, 17: 1-6.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S., Cornforth, I.S. and Cameron, K.C. 1999. Sustainability issues with nitrogen fertiliser use in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crops. Journal of Applied Seed Production, 17: 67-76.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. The effect of autumn applied nitrogen fertiliser on winter leaching in a cultivated soil. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 56: 99-107.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. The fate of residual fertiliser after a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 51: 287-294.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. The response of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop to nitrogen fertiliser application in the absence of moisture stress. Grass and Forage Science, 55: 314-325.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. Nitrogen leaching losses from 15N-labelled fertiliser and organic nitrogen mineralisation in an autumn-cultivated soil. WISPAS (Water in the Soil - Plant - Atmosphere System), vol. 75.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Sedcole R.J. 2001. Nitrogen effects on seed quality in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Seed Science and Technology, 29: 255-270.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2001. The fate of autumn, winter and spring applied nitrogen fertiliser in a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 84: 67-77.
Hampton, J.G., Cookson, W.R., Grama, A., Rowarth, J.S., McGill, C.R. and Hill, M.J. 2001. Temperature and time variables for accelerated ageing testing of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed lots. Seed Science and Technology, 29: 255-270.
Cookson, W.R., Cornforth, I.S. and Rowarth, J.S. 2002. Winter soil temperature (2-15oC) effects on nitrogen transformations in clover green crop amended and unamended soils; a laboratory and field study. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 34: 1401-1415.
Cookson, W.R. and Cornforth, I.S. 2002. Investigation of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide in soils receiving dairy cattle urine and urea fertiliser. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 34: 1461-1465.
Refereed Conference Paper
Cookson, W.R. 1999. Sustainable use of N fertiliser in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crops. Agronomy New Zealand, 29: 115.
Stockdale, E.A. and Cookson, W.R. 2003. Sustainable Farming Systems and Their Impact on Soil Biological Fertility – Some Case Studies. In: Soil Biological Fertility – A key to sustainable land use in agriculture. Eds. L.K. Abbott and D.V. Murphy. Kluwer Academic Publishers. (in press).
Journal articles
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 1997. Effects of nitrogen fertiliser on the irrigation requirements of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop. Journal of Applied Seed Production, 15: 95-98.
Cookson, W.R., Beare, M.H. and Wilson, P.E. 1998. Residue quality and management effects on microbial properties and crop residue decomposition. Applied Soil Ecology, 7:179-188.
Rowarth, J.S. Archie, W.J., Cookson, W.R., Hampton, J.G., Sanders, C.J., Silberstein, T.B. and Young III, W.C. 1999. The link between thousand seed weight, nitrogen concentration and seed vigour. Journal of Applied Seed Production, 17: 1-6.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S., Cornforth, I.S. and Cameron, K.C. 1999. Sustainability issues with nitrogen fertiliser use in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crops. Journal of Applied Seed Production, 17: 67-76.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. The effect of autumn applied nitrogen fertiliser on winter leaching in a cultivated soil. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 56: 99-107.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. The fate of residual fertiliser after a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 51: 287-294.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. The response of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop to nitrogen fertiliser application in the absence of moisture stress. Grass and Forage Science, 55: 314-325.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2000. Nitrogen leaching losses from 15N-labelled fertiliser and organic nitrogen mineralisation in an autumn-cultivated soil. WISPAS (Water in the Soil - Plant - Atmosphere System), vol. 75.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Sedcole R.J. 2001. Nitrogen effects on seed quality in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Seed Science and Technology, 29: 255-270.
Cookson, W.R., Rowarth, J.S. and Cameron, K.C. 2001. The fate of autumn, winter and spring applied nitrogen fertiliser in a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 84: 67-77.
Hampton, J.G., Cookson, W.R., Grama, A., Rowarth, J.S., McGill, C.R. and Hill, M.J. 2001. Temperature and time variables for accelerated ageing testing of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed lots. Seed Science and Technology, 29: 255-270.
Cookson, W.R., Cornforth, I.S. and Rowarth, J.S. 2002. Winter soil temperature (2-15oC) effects on nitrogen transformations in clover green crop amended and unamended soils; a laboratory and field study. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 34: 1401-1415.
Cookson, W.R. and Cornforth, I.S. 2002. Investigation of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide in soils receiving dairy cattle urine and urea fertiliser. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 34: 1461-1465.
Refereed Conference Paper
Cookson, W.R. 1999. Sustainable use of N fertiliser in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crops. Agronomy New Zealand, 29: 115.
Roles, responsibilities and expertise
Soil science, plant and seed physiology, molecular and biochemical measures of microbial diversity
Future research
The influence of water availability on microbial diversity and nutrient cycling in managed systems. Establishing potential links between diversity and ecosystem function.
Funding received
1996-1999 Foundation for Arable Research nitrogen in ryegrass project (NZ$12,000 pa)
2000-2003 New Zealand Science and Technology Post-Doctorial Fellowship, (NZ$80,000 pa)
2001 Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant (AUD$2000)
2001 Commonwealth Science Council Fellowship (AUD$1000)
2000-2003 New Zealand Science and Technology Post-Doctorial Fellowship, (NZ$80,000 pa)
2001 Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant (AUD$2000)
2001 Commonwealth Science Council Fellowship (AUD$1000)
Industrial relevance
Agricultural Sustainability
Languages
English
Memberships
New Zealand Society of Soil Science, 1995-present
The New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science, 1996-present
Agronomy Society of New Zealand, 1999
Royal Society of New Zealand, Canterbury Branch, 1999
The New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science, 1996-present
Agronomy Society of New Zealand, 1999
Royal Society of New Zealand, Canterbury Branch, 1999
Honours and awards
New Zealand Soil Society Prize, awarded to the top undergraduate student in soil science classes, 1995
New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, Environmental Science Award Finalist, for honours dissertations, 1995
Lincoln University Graduate Scholarship, 1996-1997
Leonard Condell Farming Scholarship, 1997
L.W. McCaskill Scholarship, 1996-1998
MacMillan Brown Agricultural Research Scholarship, 1996-1998
Lincoln University Doctoral Scholarship, 1998
New Zealand Agronomy Society Travel Award, 1999
New Zealand Agronomy Society Prize for the Best Student Presentation, 1999
New Zealand Science and Technology Post-Doctorial Fellowship, 2000
The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2000 (not taken)
Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant, 2001
Commonwealth Science Council Fellowship, 2001
New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, Environmental Science Award Finalist, for honours dissertations, 1995
Lincoln University Graduate Scholarship, 1996-1997
Leonard Condell Farming Scholarship, 1997
L.W. McCaskill Scholarship, 1996-1998
MacMillan Brown Agricultural Research Scholarship, 1996-1998
Lincoln University Doctoral Scholarship, 1998
New Zealand Agronomy Society Travel Award, 1999
New Zealand Agronomy Society Prize for the Best Student Presentation, 1999
New Zealand Science and Technology Post-Doctorial Fellowship, 2000
The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2000 (not taken)
Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant, 2001
Commonwealth Science Council Fellowship, 2001
Previous positions
1995-1996 Technical assistant, Crop and Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
1999-2000 Post-doctoral researcher, Lincoln University, New Zealand
1999-2000 Post-doctoral researcher, Lincoln University, New Zealand
Current projects
My current research has examined the microbial function and diversity from organic, biodynamic and organic farmers in Western Australia, England and Scotland. These findings will determine which soil or management properties have the greatest influence over microbial diversity under contrasting farming systems. My research has involved the use of PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis), phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, catabolic diversity and enzyme activity measurements to characterise microbial communities. I have collaborated with scientists from New Zealand (Professor Keith Cameron, Lincoln University), UK (Dr Keith Goulding, Dr Elizabeth Stockdale, Dr Penny Hirsch and Dr Daniel Abaye, IACR-Rothamsted) and Australia (Dr Daniel Murphy, University of Western Australia; Dr Petra Marschner, University of Adelaide) to establish a network of researchers interested in pursuing common research goals within the fields of microbial nutrient cycling and microbial ecology.
Research profile
The University of Western Australia
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Last updated:
Tuesday, 14 July, 2009 1:02 PM
Website Feedback:
http://www.uwa.edu.au/117768
Last updated:
Tuesday, 14 July, 2009 1:02 PM
Website Feedback:
http://www.uwa.edu.au/117768
