JCU > Research Portfolio > A/Prof Paul Nelson

About

Paul Nelson is an agricultural/environmental scientist with research, education and leadership experience in industry, government and university sectors. He does research and teaching in land and water science, and coordinates the Sustainable Tropical Agriculture Flagship of James Cook University’s Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science.

Paul's current research focusses on how natural processes and management influence the sustainability and environmental impact of agriculture and aquaculture, including productivity, soil condition, water quality, carbon and nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and other biogeochemical processes.

Prior to joining James Cook University, Paul led the Soil Science and Agronomy program of the Papua New Guinea Oil Palm Research Association. He has also worked with CSIRO, the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, the Australian Centre for Water Treatment and Water Quality Research, the French National Agricultural Research Institute (INRA) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Teaching

EA2007: Soil Properties and Processes for Management (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
EA3007: Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science (Level 3; CNS)
EA3207: Soil Properties and Processes (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
EA5017: Soil Properties and Processes (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
EA5018: Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science (Level 5; CNS)
EA5026: Special Studies (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
EV1005: Environmental Processes and Global Change (Level 1; CNS)
EV2401: Australian Landscape Processes and Evolution (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
SC3008: Professional Placement (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
SC3010: Sensors and Sensing for Scientists (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
SC5900: Special Topic (Level 5; CNS)
SC5901: Special Topic 1 (Level 5; CNS)
SC5902: Special Topic 2 (Level 5; CNS)
SC5903: Literature Review (Level 5; CNS)
SC5909: Minor Project and Seminar (Level 5; CNS)
SC5912: Minor Project, Seminar and Literature Review (1 of 2) (Level 5; CNS)
SC5913: Minor Project, Seminar and Literature Review (2 of 2) (Level 5; CNS)
TV1002: Veterinary Professional Life 2 (Level 1; TSV)

Interests

Research

Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, particularly through enhanced mineral weathering
Reducing nutrient and contaminant export from agriculture and aquaculture using novel techniques such as denitrifying bioreactors
Understanding and managing effects of soil physicochemical conditions on soil biological health, particularly suppressiveness/ conduciveness to Panama disease in bananas
Modelling and managing water and nutrient cycling in tropical agriculture and aquaculture

Teaching

Soil matters: it is the most biologically diverse and active part of the earth, where minerals, water, air and living things interact in complex and fascinating ways that are critical for human well-being and ecosystem functioning. Having a good grasp of soil properties and processes is invaluable for graduates in environmental science and management.

Experience

2015 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
2010 to 2014 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
2004 to 2009 - Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (50%), James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
2004 to 2009 - Senior Scientist (50%), Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Mareeba, Australia)
2001 to 2003 - Senior Agronomist, PNG Oil Palm Research Association (Papua New Guinea)
1999 to 2001 - Research Scientist, CSIRO (Townsville, Australia)
1997 to 1999 - Research Officer, BSES/CRC Sugar (Ayr, Australia)
1993 to 1996 - PhD candidate, University of Adelaide (Adelaide, Australia)
1991 to 1992 - Research Officer, INRA (Dijon, France)
1991 - Technical Officer, Swedish Uni of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala, Sweden)
1987 to 1990 - Research Officer, Australian Centre for Water Treatment and Water Quality Research (Adelaide, Australia)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2012 - Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Australian Office for Learning & Teaching and JCU)

Fellowships

2015 - Fellow, The Cairns Institute

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Munksgaard N and Nelson P (in press) Coupled polymer-membrane equilibration and cavity ring-down spectrometry for the highly sensitive determination of dissolved methane in environmental waters. Analytical Letters, , DOI:10.1080/00032719.2020.1767122.
Oliver D, Li Y, Orr R, Nelson P, Barnes M, McLaughlin M and Kookana R (2020) Sorption behaviour of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in tropical soils. Environmental Pollution, 258, Article: 113726, DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113726.
Orr R, Hocking R, Pattison A and Nelson P (2020) Extraction of metals from mildly acidic tropical soils: interactions between chelating ligand, pH and soil type. Chemosphere, 248, Article: 126060, DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126060.
Pardon L, Bockstaller C, Marichal R, Sionita R, Nelson P, Gabrielle B, Laclau J, Pujianto , Caliman J and Bessou C (2020) IN-Palm: an agri-environmental indicator to assess nitrogen losses in oil palm plantations. Agronomy Journal, 112 (2), pp. 786-800, DOI:10.1002/agj2.20109.
Bowen A, Orr R, McBeath A, Pattison A and Nelson P (2019) Suppressiveness or conduciveness to Fusarium wilt of bananas differs between key Australian soils. Soil Research, 57 (2), pp. 158-165, DOI:10.1071/SR18159.
Dickinson G, O'Farrell P, Ridgway K, Bally I, Masters B, Nelson P and Pattison T (2019) Nitrogen and carbon management in Australian mango orchards to improve productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Acta Horticulturae, 1244, pp. 49-60, DOI:10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1244.10.
Oliver D, Li Y, Orr R, Nelson P, Barnes M, McLaughlin M and Kookana R (2019) The role of surface charge and pH changes in tropical soils on sorption behaviour of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Science of the Total Environment, 673, pp. 197-206, DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.055.
Orr R, Pattison A, East D, Warman N, O'Neill W, Czislowski E and Nelson P (2019) Image-based quantification of Fusarium wilt severity in banana. Australasian Plant Disease Notes, 14, Article: 14, DOI:10.1007/s13314-019-0344-7.
Beerling D, Leake J, Long S, Scholes J, Ton J, Nelson P, Bird M, Kantzas E, Taylor L, Sarkar B, Kelland M, DeLucia E, Kantola I, Müller C, Rau G and Hansen J (2018) Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security. Nature Plants, 4, pp. 138-147, DOI:10.1038/s41477-018-0108-y.
Goodrick I and Nelson P (2018) Mineralisation of soil organic carbon in two Andisols under oil palm: an incubation study into controlling factors. Soil Research, 56 (1), pp. 105-112, DOI:10.1071/SR16089.
Grimbacher P, Edwards W, Liddell M, Nelson P, Nichols C, Wardhaugh C and Stork N (2018) Temporal variation in abundance of leaf litter beetles and ants in an Australian lowland tropical rainforest is driven by climate and litter fall. Biodiversity and Conservation, 27 (10), pp. 2625-2640, DOI:10.1007/s10531-018-1558-2.
Morales S, Trouche B, Wakelin S, Banabas M and Nelson P (2018) Shifts in prokaryotic communities under forest and grassland within a tropical mosaic landscape. Applied Soil Ecology, 125, pp. 156-161, DOI:10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.11.028.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 140+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Paul Nelson from 1990 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Leverhulme Trust - Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation

Sequestering carbon and improving sugarcane productivity by enhanced weathering of basalt

Indicative Funding: $479,169 over 5 years (administered by University of Sheffield)
Summary: Arresting the build-up of atmospheric CO2 is one of humanity's biggest challenges. In geological time, the weathering of rocks consumes CO2, which is then sequestered as limestone in the ocean, but the natural rate of this process is very slow. In this project we will determine the feasibility of accelerating weathering by introducing crushed basalt (a common and easily weathered rock) into the place on earth with highest CO2 production and potential weathering rates - topsoil in the humid tropics. We will also examine the effects on soil condition and crop growth, which are likely to be beneficial.
Investigators: Paul Nelson, Michael Bird and David J Beerling (College of Science & Engineering and University of Sheffield)
Keywords: Carbon sequestration; Soil Fertility; Sugarcane; Water Quality; Great Barrier Reef; Agricultural Sustainability

Department of Industry - Innovations Connections

Improving performance of bioreactors for treating effluent from land-based aquaculture

Indicative Funding: $50,000 , in partnership with Mainstream Aquaculture ($50,685)
Summary: Effluent from land-based aquaculture is problematic because of its nutrient content. This project aims to enhance the performance of `denitrification bioreactors? designed to remove nitrogen from effluent. It will be carried out on a barramundi farm near Innisfail. Availability of carbon appears to limit bioreactor performance, so the effect of adding molasses will be tested, under different conditions of salinity and retention time. The ability of the bioreactors to eliminate algae and parasites will also be tested. The results will be applicable to aquaculture farms throughout the tropics, facilitating more effective treatment of water leaving farms or being recirculated.
Investigators: Alex Cheesman, Paul Nelson and Kelly Condon in collaboration with Marty Phillips (College of Science & Engineering and Mainstream Aquaculture Pty Ltd)
Keywords: carbon; Barramundi (Lates calcarifer); water quality; Denitrification; Nitrate; pathogens

Department of Industry - Innovations Connections

Improving the quality of water for release from land-based aquaculture in northern Australia

Indicative Funding: $50,000 over 2 years, in partnership with Mainstream Aquaculture ($52,594 over 2 yrs)
Summary: Effluent from land-based aquaculture farms is problematic because of its nutrient content. This project will be the first in Australia and the tropics to assess the ability of 'denitrification bioreactors' (woodchip-filled trenches) to remove suspended solids and nitrogen from effluent leaving an aquaculture farm. It will be carried out on a barramundi farm the Great Barrier Reef catchment in North Queensland. Changes in quality of water flowing through bioreactors will be measured under a range of likely operating conditions, including differences in salinity and effluent retention rate. The results will be applicable to aquaculture farms throughout the tropics, enabling a reduction in negative environmental impacts, and facilitating intensification and expansion of fish production without increasing nutrient export.
Investigators: Paul Nelson and Alex Cheesman in collaboration with Shannon Todd (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: fish farming; Barramundi (Lates calcarifer); Water Quality; Wet Tropics; Nitrate; Great Barrier Reef

Department of Environment and Heritage Protection - Tender

Denitrification bioreactor trial in the Russell catchment of the Wet Tropics

Indicative Funding: $235,087 over 4 years (administered by Jaragun Pty Ltd)
Summary: This project will establish the effectiveness of denitrification bioreactors as an on-farm technology for removing dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in waters draining the Babinda Swamp Drainage Area. The region has been identified as a hotspot for DIN in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. This will be the first trial of denitrification bioreactors in the Wet Tropics. Denitrifying bioreactors route water through a high-carbon substrate under anaerobic conditions to encourage denitrification (the conversion of DIN to atmospheric N2). Two bioreactor configurations will be tested at two sites, and the potential for broader adoption will be assessed.
Investigators: Paul Nelson, Alex Cheesman, Liz Owen, HanShe Lim, Bithin Datta, Colin MacGregor and Ian Layden in collaboration with Nathan Waltham, Bart Dryden and Mark Bayley (College of Science & Engineering, Jaragun Pty Ltd, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, TropWATER, Terrain Natural Resource Management (Wet Tropics) and Australian Wetland Consulting)
Keywords: sugarcane; Water quality; nitrate; runoff; Wet Tropics; Great Barrier Reef

Horticulture Innovation Australia - Research Grant

Activity 2.6 (Banana soil physico-chemical properties) of 'Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 Research program (BA14014)'

Indicative Funding: $350,000 over 5 years (administered by DAF)
Summary: The project will determine the influence of soil physiocochemical conditions on growth and infectivity of the banana disease-causing fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc. Foc is one of the world's most destructive banana diseases and Tropical Race 4, which attacks the Cavendish variety, was recently detected in the Tully valley in the heart of the North Queensland banana production region. This project is part of a larger program aimed at providing new information and practices to address key areas of need with a medium to long-term view of developing management practices for banana growers affected by Tropical Race 4.
Investigators: Paul Nelson and Rosalie Hocking in collaboration with Tony Pattison and Anna McBean (College of Science & Engineering, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Forestry)
Keywords: Soil Chemistry; banana disease; sil physics; Fusarium oxysporum (Netriaceae); soil biology; agricultural soil management

Terrain Natural Resource Management - Contract Research

Soil/landscape assessment and monitoring design for WTMIP 'Catchment Repair and Treatment Systems Design Phase 2'

Indicative Funding: $13,740 (administered by Australian Wetland Cnsulting)
Summary: The 'Catchment repair and treatment systems phase 2' activity of the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (WTMIP) aims to reduce nitrogen loads in runoff from agricultural landscapes by installing treatment wetlands as well as 'denitrification bioreactors' in the Tully and Johnstone catchments. Aspart of this consortium submission (partners include AWC, Alluvium, Premise/Turbid) to Terrain JCU will be involved in assessing soil and landscape features at the proposed sites, collecting and analysing information on soil profiles and helping in the design and implementation of 1 treatment wetland and 5 denitrifying bioreactors.
Investigators: Paul Nelson and Alex Cheesman (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Sugarcane; Water Quality; Nitrate; Runoff; Wet Tropics; Great Barrier Reef

Terrain Natural Resource Management - Contract Research

Johnstone bioreactor data analysis ? first 6 months

Indicative Funding: $15,000
Summary: In the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (WTMIP), bioreactor 'walls' are being trialled for their ability to remove nitrate from shallow groundwater leaving sugarcane fields. Bioreactor walls consist of a woodchip-filled trench, approximately 30 m long x 2 m deep x 1 m wide, perpendicular to groundwater flow direction. To determine their effectiveness, the removal of nitrate from water flowing through them must be measured. In this project we will calculate nitrate removal in a bioreactor in the Johnstone catchment during the Jan-Jun 2019 period, using topographic survey, rainfall, water table depth and solute concentration data.
Investigators: Paul Nelson, Bithin Datta and Alex Cheesman (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Water Quality; Nitrate; Bioreactor; Groundwater; Sugarcane; Hydrology

Terrain Natural Resource Management - Contract Research

WTMIP Johnstone Catchment Bioreactor Site-01 Piezo Survey

Indicative Funding: $862
Summary: In the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (WTMIP), bioreactor 'walls' are being trialled for their ability to remove nitrate from shallow groundwater leaving sugarcane fields. Bioreactor walls consist of a woodchip-filled trench, approximately 20m long x 2m deep x 0.6m wide, perpendicular to groundwater flow direction. To determine their effectiveness, the removal of nitrate from water flowing through them must be measured. That involves continuous measurements of water table height and nitrate concentration in piezometers (shallow wells) around the bioreactor, and one-off a) measurements of hydraulic conductivity and b) accurate survey of piezometer locations (ie. this project).
Investigators: Paul Nelson, Alex Cheesman and Shannon Todd (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Water Quality; Nitrate; bioreactor; Groundwater; Sugarcane; Hydrology

Department of Industry - Innovations Connections

Black soldier fly production to convert food waste into protein-rich animal feed

Indicative Funding: $17,659 , in partnership with Murray Farming Pty Ltd ($17,659)
Summary: We will evaluate methods of black soldier fly production that have been successful elsewhere and adapt them to the tropical conditions of northern Australia; and evaluate the effects of food source on the growth rates of black soldier fly populations.
Investigators: Lori Lach, Paul Nelson and Stuart Biggs (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: black soldier fly Hermetia illucens; Food Waste; Nutrition; insect protein; sustainable food production; Growth Rate

Department of the Environment and Energy - Reef Trust Phase III

Australian Banana Growers Council: Denitrifying Bioreactors

Indicative Funding: $30,000 over 2 years (administered by Australian Banana Growers Council)
Summary: This project in conjunction with Australian Banana Growers Council seeks to establish the effectiveness of denitrification bioreactors as an on-farm technology to remove excess dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) leaving farms in the Wet Tropics bioregion. The Russell River catchment has been identified as a hotspot for DIN loading to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, and this work represents a novel approach to curb DIN loading to natural systems. Denitrifying bioreactors route drainage water through a high carbon substrate under anaerobic conditions to encourage denitrification (the conversion of DIN to atmospheric N2). This project will involved detailed site monitoring, installation and scientific evaluation of a bioreactor wall in the headwaters of the Russell River catchment.
Investigators: Paul Nelson and Alex Cheesman (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Banana; Water Quality; Nitrate; Runoff; Wet Tropics; Great Barrier Reef

ACIAR - Research Grant

Strengthening Livelihoods for Food Security Amongst Cocoa and Oil Palm Farming Communities in Papua New Guinea

Indicative Funding: $63,963 over 4 years (administered by Curtin University of Technology)
Summary: This project addresses rising food insecurity amongst smallholder cocoa and oil palm households in Papua New Guinea. The capacity of these households to grow or buy food is declining due to increasing populations and decreasing per-capita income in oil palm-growing communities and the spread of coco pod borer in cocoa-growing areas. The project objectives are to i) assess food security status in these communities, ii) determine the key factors influencing food security, iii) enhance food and livelihood security through strengthening food production and diversifying incomes, and iv) strengthen household and institutional capacity to address food and livelihood security.
Investigators: Gina Koczberski, George Curry, Paul Nelson, Eric Omuru and Douglas Roger (Curtin University of Technology, College of Science & Engineering, Cocoa and Coconut Institute and Oil Palm Industry Corporation)
Keywords: Mixed Cropping; Agroforestry; Farming System; Food Security; Livelihoods; Tropical Agriculture

FNQ NRM Ltd (Terrain Natural Resource Management) - Consultancy - Tender

Soil/landscape assessment and monitoring design for WTMIP `Catchment Repair and Treatment Systems Design Phase?

Indicative Funding: $35,511 (administered by Australian Wetlands Consulting Pty Ltd)
Summary: This project contributes to the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (WTMIP) in the Johnstone and Tully catchments. The `Catchment repair and treatment systems? activity area of the WTMIP aims to reduce nitrogen loads in runoff by installing and restoring wetlands and installing `denitrification bioreactors?. As part of the design phase of that activity we will assess soil and landscape features at the proposed sites and design the monitoring program to assess their effectiveness. This assessment and monitoring design will be done in collaboration with Australian Wetland Consulting and Alluvium, who will design the installations themselves.
Investigators: Paul Nelson, Alex Cheesman and Nathan Waltham (College of Science & Engineering and TropWATER)
Keywords: Sugarcane; Water Quality; Nitrate; Runoff; Wet Tropics; Great Barrier Reef

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Automatic Generation of Geometry for Simulation and Games (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Influence of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on the Defensive Chemistry of Tropical Tree Leaves (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Geospatial optimisation of interventions to improve water quality in the Russell-Mulgrave River catchment (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
The Impacts of Soil Physicochemicol Properties on Suppression of Fusorium wilt of Bananas in North Queensland, Australia. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Completed

Modelling of the nitrogen budget of oil palm plantations to help reduce losses to the environment. Case study in Sumatra, Indonesia (2017, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Maximizing nutrient utilisation and soil fertility in smallholder coffee and food garden systems in Papua New Guinea by managing nutrient stocks and movement (2017, Masters , Primary Advisor)
Carbon cycle processes in tropical savannas of far North Queensland, Australia (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Biochar, compost and biochar-compost: effects on crop performance, soil quality and greenhouse gas emissions in tropical agricultural soils (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Environmental controls on wood density in tropical forests (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Nitrous oxide emissions from soil in mango and banana fields: effects of nitrogen rate, fertiliser type, and ground cover practices (2019, Masters , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Soil carbon dynamics under oil palm plantations (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

Nelson, P. (2013) Tree-scale lateral variation in root mass, throughfall and soil respiration in mature oil palm plantations in Papua New Guinea. James Cook University
Nelson, P. (2012) Nutrient contents and associated parameters for cocoa tree leaves, ripe cocoa pods and soil from 63 cocoa farms in Papua New Guinea in 2007. James Cook University

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.