Assoc.Prof. Vanessa Wong - Honours Projects

Quantifying soil nutrient concentrations for targeted weed control and revegetation strategies

Supervisor: Vanessa Wong
Field of Study: Soils and land management
Support Offered: Project funds
Collaborating Organisation: Local environment group
Preferred Program: Geographical Science, Environmental Science or Earth Science with preference for students who have  completed EAE3321.

Synopsis
Managing vegetation in coastal reserves is challenging due to the proximity of urban areas and altered drainage patterns. This can result in wetter soils with increased nutrient deposition, encouraging weed encroachment and making revegetation strategies challenging. However, in other coastal reserves, weed encroachment is limited. This project will assess the soil characteristics in coastal reserves to identify potential changes in nutrient availability which may encourage weed infestations to better target management and revegetation strategies.

Understanding wetland soil biogeochemistry

Supervisor: Vanessa Wong
Field of Study: Soils and land management
Support Offered: Project funds
Collaborating Organisation: Vic DELWP
Preferred Program: Geographical Science, Environmental Science or Earth Science with preference for students who have completed EAE3321
Synopsis.
Coastal wetlands are important biodiversity hotspots and host to abundant bird and fish species in unique ecosystems. Coastal wetlands are also frequently underlain by acid sulfate soils, which can adversely impact on soil and water quality when water levels drop. Our understanding of acid sulfate soils in Victoria in terms of both spatial distribution and characterisation is currently limited. This project will identify the distribution and characterise acid sulfate soils in important wetlands for improved and targeted land and water management of these ecosystems.

Effects of pH variation in wastewater application to agricultural land

Supervisor: Vanessa Wong
Field of Study: Soils and land management
Support Offered: Project funds
Collaborating Organisation: Western Water
Preferred Program: Geographical Science, Environmental Science or Earth Science with preference for students who have completed EAE3321.

Synopsis
Wastewater from water utilities organisations is frequently used for irrigation for a range of purposes, including agricultural land. The urban growth corridors to the west of Melbourne will generate increasing volumes of wastewater as the city increases. While meeting environmental requirements, wastewater can vary in its characteristics and the volume for "disposal". This project will assess the rates of application of wastewater on to agricultural land and effects of soil properties.

For further information contact Vanessa Wong