School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Research Publications
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ItemInfluence of particle granulometry and panel composition on the physico-mechanical properties of ultra-low-density hemp hurd particleboard(Wiley, 2023)This study investigated Australian hemp hurd (Cannabis sativa L., “Frog One”) as a lignocellulosic raw material for ultra-low-density hemp particleboard (ULHPB) with densities ranging from 213 to 309 kg/m3. The hurd was first milled and fractionated into three particle size categories, that is, fine (F), medium (M), and coarse (C). Twelve unique ULHPB variants were then fabricated comprising varying particle loadings from four particle size mixes, that is, 100% C, 100% M, 50%/50% CM, 25%/50%/25% CMF, and adhesive contents of bio-epoxy (EPX), phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF), and emulsifiable methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), respectively. The panel assessments, conducted in accordance with the Australian reconstituted wood-based panels standard AS/NZS 1859.1 (2017), revealed a significant effect of particle dimension on most physico-mechanical properties. Furthermore, the resination method and pressing temperature controlled post-cure panel expansion and additional panel characteristics. Notably, MDI-ULHPB exhibited drastically different behavior and properties compared to EPX and PRF equivalents, demonstrating greater bending strength, stiffness, screw withdrawal strength, and dimensional stability. Importantly, all MDI variants conformed to the 15% thickness swelling limit for moisture resistant particleboard. Surface lamination of MDI-bonded ULHPB with sheets of aluminum, Masonite, and Kraft liner significantly improved the inherently low flexural properties, suggesting the potential suitability of ULHPB as a core layer in lightweight sandwich composite panels. The integration of agricultural by-products, such as hemp hurd, into engineered building materials presents a promising opportunity to mitigate the depletion of finite timber resources and aligns well with circular economy principles. Highlights • Utilizing agricultural residue as sustainable raw material in building products. • Hemp hurd enables ultra-low-density particleboard with thermosetting resins. • Coarse particle size mix enhances mechanical performance in panels. • Panel characteristics controlled by resination method and pressing temperature. • Lamination enhances functionality of lightweight hemp hurd sandwich panel.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableAdvancing enhanced wood manufacturing industries in Laos and Australia - Final Report(Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), 2023-07-17)ACIAR invested in Lao PDR's plantation and wood products sector in 2005, with the third project, FST/2016/151 – Advancing enhanced wood manufacturing industries in Laos and Australia (VALTIP3), building on the results. The VALTIP3 project conducted research on plantation-wood value chains, mapping plantations, exploring actors like traders and women, developing innovative wood products, and implementing processing technologies. It also assessed policy, regulatory, and strategic settings in these areas. The projects built local capacity to meet the demand of plantation-wood processing companies in Laos for NUoL FFS graduates and government stakeholders seeking VALTIP3 team members' knowledge for policy changes.
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ItemA review of some aspects of goat meat quality: future research recommendations(CSIRO Publishing, 2023)The global goat meat sector is advancing and contributes to long-term food security, especially in meeting the protein demands of the growing human population in developing countries. Spanning all countries, Australia, is the largest exporter of goat meat, although it has negligible consumption. However, Australia does potentially have a secure future as an innovative, profitable, and resilient world leader in goat production, provided some challenges are addressed. These challenges facing the goat meat sector require suitable strategies and interventions for better profitability and acceptance of goat meat consumed in Australia and as an export product. Limited research on goat meat quality and the lack of an adequate grading system for goat meat quality are two of the major issues that need attention from the industry and researchers. Some of the most critical areas that need further research to enable growth of the goat meat industry are the influence of genetics and age of animals on meat quality, standardisation of the ageing period of various goat meat cuts, cooking innovations, consumer acceptance and sensory analysis of goat meat (both farmed and rangeland goats). This paper reviews the status of the goat meat sector and identifies the opportunities for the goat meat sector, particularly in Australia. In addition, we highlight several key issues requiring further research and interventions to enhance the growth of the goat meat industry.
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ItemInulin fructans - food applications and alternative plant sources: a review(WILEY, 2022-07-12)Fructans are water soluble, non‐digestible fructose polymers found as storage polysaccharides in certain plants. They are classified as inulin‐type, graminan‐type and branched‐type, while the former being the most extensively researched fructan type. Inulin fructans vary in different plants, with respect to the chain length, degree of polymerisation and molecular weight. Being one of the most versatile functional food ingredients, inulin fructans are well known for their unique bifidogenic and prebiotic properties as well as techno‐functional properties including fibre enhancing, fat and sugar replacing and viscosity and texture modifying attributes in food systems. Therefore, incorporation of inulin fructans into more frequently consumed dairy and non‐dairy products has become an emerging trend in the food industry. Despite the commercial manufacture of inulin fructans from chicory, a growing interest has emerged to extract this functional ingredient from inulin‐rich alternative plant sources including jerusalem artichoke, globe artichoke, yacon, burdock, asparagus species, garlic, agave and dandelion, which can potentially be good sources of inulin for food and nutraceutical applications in future. This review provides an in‐depth insight of inulin fructans including the chemistry, food applications and health benefits, and also giving special reference to alternative plant sources.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableEstimating forest above-ground biomass with terrestrial laser scanning: Current status and future directions(WILEY, 2022-06-09)Abstract Improving the global monitoring of above‐ground biomass (AGB) is crucial for forest management to be effective in climate mitigation. In the last decade, methods have been developed for estimating AGB from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data. TLS‐derived AGB estimates can address current uncertainties in allometric and Earth observation (EO) methods that quantify AGB. We assembled a global dataset of TLS scanned and consecutively destructively measured trees from a variety of forest conditions and reconstruction pipelines. The dataset comprised 391 trees from 111 species with stem diameter ranging 8.5 to 180.3 cm and AGB ranging 13.5–43,950 kg. TLS‐derived AGB closely agreed with destructive values (bias <1%, concordance correlation coefficient of 98%). However, we identified below‐average performances for smaller trees (<1,000 kg) and conifers. In every individual study, TLS estimates of AGB were less biased and more accurate than those from allometric scaling models (ASMs), especially for larger trees (>1,000 kg). More effort should go to further understanding and constraining several TLS error sources. We currently lack an objective method of evaluating point cloud quality for tree volume reconstruction, hindering the development of reconstruction algorithms and presenting a bottleneck for tracking down the error sources identified in our synthesis. Since quantifying AGB with TLS requires only a fraction of the efforts as compared to destructive harvesting, TLS‐calibrated ASMs can become a powerful tool in AGB upscaling. TLS will be critical for calibrating/validating scheduled and launched remote sensing initiatives aiming at global AGB mapping.
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ItemEnvironmental drivers of fish population dynamics in an estuarine ecosystem of south-eastern Australia(WILEY, 2022-05-30)Abstract Estuaries are dynamic environments and often support rich biodiversity and important fisheries. Linking environmental drivers or events to observed biological changes in these systems provides critical information that can facilitate their management. Historical fish and fisheries data for Western Port, a large embayment in south‐east Australia that supports rich biodiversity, were collated, including catch records, recruitment indices and two novel growth time series. Dynamic factor analysis (DFA) identified three common patterns associated with the biological time‐series data, which in turn were related to both local and regional environmental drivers. On a local scale, nitrogen loads and chlorophyll a concentration affected fish metrics, potentially through the food web and via changes to critical seagrass habitat. On a regional scale, offshore sea surface temperature in Bass Strait was important. Step changes (change points) in the three common patterns were predominantly associated with significant El Niño and La Niña events and, to a lesser extent, recruitment pulses and the cessation of commercial netting.
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ItemGenetic sampling and an activity index indicate contrasting outcomes of lethal control for an invasive predator(WILEY, 2022-08)ABSTRACT Invasive mammalian predators are implicated in the ongoing decline of a suite of fauna and continue to be a major cause of human–wildlife conflict globally. Lethal control of invasive predators is a common management strategy; however, the use of activity indices to measure management effectiveness is problematic. Non‐invasive genetic sampling may be a viable alternative approach to monitoring as individual animals can be identified, allowing for direct estimation of population density through newly developed spatially explicit capture–recapture techniques. Here we compare inferences derived from a basic activity index (number of scats per survey) and genetic sampling of scats within a before–after control–impact design to evaluate the effectiveness of a lethal control programme targeting red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in south‐eastern Australia. The activity index was highly variable through time and suggested the baiting programme reduced fox activity on the treatment transect relative to changes on the non‐treatment transect. In contrast, genetic sampling and spatially explicit capture–recapture analysis suggested fox density varied little throughout the study, with any changes unable to be attributed to the baiting programme. Additionally, genetic sampling confirmed many individuals persisted through 7 months of baiting. These contrasting results may be partially explained by changes in scat detectability due to seasonal changes in behaviour and the disproportionate contribution of some individuals to scat counts. Our pre‐baiting density estimate of 0.28 foxes km2 (95% CI: 0.22–0.38) was lower than expected given the high productivity, abundant prey species and lack of larger predators in the study region. Our results highlight the need for cautious interpretation of activity indices and demonstrates the value of incorporating recent methodological and statistical advances when evaluating lethal control programmes.
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ItemC-13 methodologies for quantifying biochar stability in soil: A critique(WILEY, 2022-05-01)Methodologies based on ¹³C‐enrichment (E), ¹³C‐depletion (D) and ¹³C‐natural abundance (NA) to estimate the stability of biochar in soil were critically examined. The stability of ¹³C‐enriched biochar can be estimated by the quantitative recovery of excess ¹³C, either in the soil or in evolved CO₂. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Recovery in the soil is a measure of both residual biochar ¹³C + ¹³C immobilised in soil organic matter during biochar decomposition. Variable proportions of organic‐ and inorganic‐C are present in alkaline biochars, and few data exist on the uniformity of labelling, which is a basic requirement of the respired ¹³CO₂ and E methodology. The E technique has had limited application due to the cost and difficulty of obtaining a uniformly‐enriched feedstock through continuous labelling of plants with ¹³CO₂ at a constant ¹³C enrichment. In contrast, the NA technique has been widely applied. The NA and D techniques are in situ methods that involve the addition of C₄‐derived biochar to a C₃‐soil or vice versa. Stability is estimated by a two‐end‐member mixing model that allows the proportion of evolved CO₂ derived from the biochar (Cdfb) to be estimated. The mixing model has recently been misused to estimate the Cdfb of ¹³C‐enriched biochar, with ¹³C‐abundance expressed as erroneously large δ values. ¹³C‐based methods provide a yardstick against which rapid stability tests should be evaluated. While numerous laboratory incubation comparisons have been conducted, very few field‐based data have been published. HIGHLIGHTS: ¹³C methods for estimating biochar stability are based on uniform isotopic labelling. Organic and inorganic constituents of biochar may not be uniformly labelled. Expression of ¹³C enriched biochar as large δ values (>500 units) rather than atom fraction excess led to larger errors in stability estimation. Few ¹³C field‐based estimates of biochar stability exist.
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ItemValorization of mushroom by-products: a review(WILEY, 2022-10)