1. Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences
  2. Research
  3. Research Groups
  4. Smart Fertilisers
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences

Smart Fertilisers

HomeCapabilitiesPeopleProjects

The Smart Fertilisers Group adopts innovative techniques to develop a new generation of inhibitors and controlled-release fertilisers.

The group applies multidisciplinary expertise and approaches from nano-chemical engineering, synthetic chemistry, plant physiology, plant biochemistry, soil microbiology and economics to the development of smarter, more efficient fertilisers, which will have a significant impact on the profitability and sustainability of agriculture.

This research will enable the Australian fertiliser industry to produce innovative and cost-effective fertiliser products. Our projects also provide excellent research training opportunities in a multidisciplinary environment, allowing researchers to advance Australia’s reputation as a ’clean and green’ producer while creating opportunities for market expansion, nationally and internationally.

News and events

Loading...

Contact the team

    Group leader

  1. Professor Deli Chen

    Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor

    • delichen@unimelb.edu.au
    • +613 8344 8148

The Soils and Environment research group seeks to understand the impacts of agricultural management on soil processes and develop technology to improve agricultural sustainability.

We carry out a range of fundamental and applied research with the aim to help policy makers, industry partners and farmers make evidence-based decisions. Current research strengths and activities include:

  • Nutrient cycling in agro-ecosystems
  • Measuring, modelling and mitigating air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, particularly intensive animal production systems
  • Novel fertiliser technologies
  • Agro-ecosystem modelling and decisions support tools for efficient fertiliser use
  • Reuse and recycling of agricultural and urban wastes
  • Big data (data mining): Green index, nitrogen footprint, decision support systems for fertiliser use
  • Soil and environmental microbiomes
  • Transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in agro-ecosystems
  • Soil microbial evolution and biogeography.
  • Novel smart fertiliser technologies

    Development of novel inhibitors and controlled release coatings.

  • State-of-the-art instruments for trace gas measurements using micrometeorological techniques

    Real-time, continuous field-scale measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from farms.

  • Soil node – Melbourne TrACEES Platform

    The Melbourne Trace Analysis for Chemical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (TrACEES) Platform’s Soil node has a strong capability in soils and environmental research and testing.

Our group members

  1. Professor Deli Chen

    Professor of Soil Science; Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor

    Deli Chen has expertise in water and nutrient dynamics in plant-soil systems, GIS based agroecosystem modelling and decision support systems for optimal irrigation and fertiliser management; and the measures, models and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions from land sources, impact of climate on agro-ecosystems, agricultural ‘big data’ and sustainable indices.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • delichen@unimelb.edu.au
  2. Associate Professor Helen Suter

    Associate Professor of Soil Science

    Helen Suter has been engaged in research to improve the efficiency of nitrogen use in agricultural systems, focussing on improving the environmental credentials particularly of intensive systems. Her expertise encompasses novel fertilisers, quantifying soil nitrogen supply and cycles, identifying N loss pathways (including gaseous emissions).

    • Find an Expert profile
    • helencs@unimelb.edu.au
  3. Dr Shu Kee (Raymond) Lam

    Senior Lecturer, Climate Change and Biogeochemistry

    Shu Kee (Raymond) Lam's research focuses on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in agroecosystems, including soil-plant interactions under climate change (elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration) and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions using urease and nitrification inhibitors. He also has expertise in global data synthesis (including meta-analysis).

    • Find an Expert profile
    • shukee.lam@unimelb.edu.au

Over the past five years, the University of Melbourne has established a multidisciplinary research team to develop unique chemical and engineering technologies that can now be applied to the manufacture of a new range of innovative responsive nitrogen fertilisers.

There is the potential for a range of innovative new-generation nitrogen fertilisers with environmentally benign coatings to target different soils, crops, regions, farming systems, and applications to deliver transformational improvements in nitrogen use efficiency for productivity and profit in the Australian agriculture.

Fertiliser manufacturers and suppliers have pledged to be integrally involved with our research projects from the outset, through contributions of funding and expertise - to ensure that the new fertiliser products will be best positioned for immediate and effective adoption in Australian production systems.

Current projects

  • Improving efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen products

    This project aims to increase the efficiency of nitrogen use of Australian cropping systems.

    03 Dec 2020 Project
  • New fertiliser technologies for sustained food security

    Society is facing the triple challenges of food security, environmental degradation and climate change. There is pressing need for fundamental research to develop next-generation fertiliser products that will improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce nitrogen losses in food production systems.

    03 Dec 2020 Project
  • ARC Research Hub for Innovative Nitrogen Fertilisers and Inhibitors

    This Research Hub aims to transform agriculture by delivering a new class of nitrogen (N) fertilisers and inhibitors designed to stem the 50-80 per cent losses to the environment in current products.

    03 Dec 2020 Project

Completed projects

    There are no current news items to display.

  • Staff Intranet
  • Contact Us

Support FVAS Donate Today


  • FVAS Facebook
  • FVAS LinkedIn
  • FVAS Twitter
  • FVAS Instagram

Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences

  • Study
    • Courses
      • DVM redir
    • Breadth
      • Breadth Subjects at Dookie
      • Australia in the Wine World
      • Insects Shaping Society
      • Beer: Theory and Craft
      • Feeding the World's Population
      • Living with Animals
      • Wine and Food
      • Feeding the World's Population
    • Honours
    • Scholarships
      • FVAS Scholarships
      • FVAS Prizes
      • Other scholarships and funding opportunities
    • Continuing Professional Development
    • Student Accommodation
      • Kendall Hall
      • Dookie Campus
    • Pre Ag Club
    • Pre Vet Club
    • Graduate Mentoring
    • Dookie Mentoring
  • News
    • New agriculture degree sees graduates ready for the ‘boom century’
    • U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital and Werribee campus redevelopment
    • Dookie Day 2017
    • Clinical trial: Investigation of stem cells as treatment for spinal cord injuries in dogs
    • Dookie Day 2018 opens the University of Melbourne's agricultural campus to the community
    • New Technology Applications for Agriculture: Going Beyond Awareness
    • Dookie campus produce for sale
    • Call for donors: cats to help other cats at new feline blood bank
    • Herd mentality: Norm Williamson’s multi-faceted career
    • Dog blood saves sick cat's life ahead of opening of new feline blood bank
    • Calling to dog owners for canine CPR research study
    • Bachelor of Agriculture Capstone Showcase 2018
    • Research Week showcases veterinary, agricultural and food science collaboration
    • 2018 Academic promotions reflect push for gender equality in universities
    • New professor boosts Melbourne's precision agriculture research and teaching
    • University of Melbourne opens new $100 million life sciences complex in Melbourne’s biomedical precinct
    • Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Awards Night 2019
    • Students and community to benefit from veterinary campus expansion
    • Melbourne Veterinary School Learning and Teaching Building Opening
    • Surgery success for one of Australia’s oldest lions
    • Dookie Day explores the future of agriculture and the Goulburn Valley region’s Indigenous heritage
    • Microwaves put the heat on herbicide resistant weeds
    • What is conservation medicine, and why is it important?
    • Agriculture students present solutions to issues facing industry
    • Study investigates suitable rootstocks for Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
    • New book explores the perspectives of the first women to study at Dookie
    • Herd mentality
    • The University of Melbourne: Bushfire response
    • New project to help prevent spread of animal to human diseases
    • Work needed to reduce the negative effects of heat stress on Australian dairy cows, research reveals
    • Researchers call for rigorous wildlife surveillance to prevent disease outbreak
    • Bite-sized lecture: The science behind sourdough
    • Take a virtual tour of our campuses at Dookie, Parkville and Werribee
    • The 2020 Dungala Kaiela Oration
    • Using environmental DNA to help stop frogs from croaking it
    • Hyperspectral insight provides early warning of threatening crop disease
  • Events
  • Research
    • Research Areas
    • Learning and Teaching
    • Graduate Research
    • Research Centres
      • Animal Welfare Science Centre
      • Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health
      • Centre for Equine Infectious Disease
      • Unlocking the Food Value Chain
      • Healthy Soils for Sustainable Food Production and Environmental Quality
      • The Mackinnon Project
      • OIE Collaborating Centre for Diagnostic Test Validation Science in the Asia-Pacific Region
      • Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre
    • Research Groups
      • Agricultural and Urban Waste Management
      • Analytics, Modelling and Technology
      • Bone and Muscle Cell Biology
      • Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine
      • Food Chemistry and Microbiology
      • Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change
      • Hyperspectral and Thermal Remote Sensing Laboratory (HyperSens)
      • Nutrient Management
      • One Health Research Group
      • Parasitology
      • Smart Fertilisers
      • Soil-Plant Microbiomes
      • Taking the Query out of Q Fever
      • Veterinary Epidemiology @ Melbourne
    • Research Projects
      • Health, welfare and biosecurity of livestock exposed to Australian bushfires
    • Research Week
  • Alumni
    • News & Pursuit
    • Reunions
    • Alumni Profiles
    • Professional Development
    • Alumni Benefits
    • Update your details
  • Support Us
    • How can I make a gift?
    • Impact
    • Visionary Veterinarians
    • Dookie Fund
    • Animal Pain Management & Rehabilitation Fund
    • A fruitful philanthropic partnership between LMCF and FVAS
  • About Us
    • About Our Faculty
    • Accreditation
    • Contact Us
  • U-Vet - Werribee Vet Hospital
  • Current Students
    • Current Students
    • Guide to your course
    • Enrich your study
      • Cross-institutional Study
      • Exchange and Study Abroad
      • Intensive subjects at Dookie
      • Internships
      • Mentoring programs
      • Research Project Subjects
    • Student life and support
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Scholarships, awards and prizes
      • Support services
      • Wellbeing Grants
  • Dookie
  • Current Students
  • Library
  • Staff