Rockhampton plant science researcher Surya Bhattarai has been awarded a $25,500 Endeavour Research Fellowship by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) to continue his pioneering work with oxygation.

The research fellowship involves a collaborative research project with the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre in Taipei, Taiwan and adds to the research base on oxygation (subsurface drip irrigation) for which CQU’s Plant Sciences Group has been a world pioneer.

Mr Bhattarai said the current project will focus on the molecular biology of a plant's water channels (aquaporins) in relation to oxygation.

The CQU staff member has been an integral part of the University's research into aeration of irrigation water and delivery of the aerated water to plants through oxygation.

Oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) in the soil is one of the major bottlenecks for crop production when the soil is saturated, compacted and saline, especially in heavy clay soil.

Aeration of the crop root zone can alleviate the problem associated with hypoxia and thereby improve plant performance.

Mr Bhattarai has recently been conducting research on an experimental pumpkin farm at Alton Downs, on the outskirts of Rockhampton.

A large plot of Japanese pumpkin has been grown - some with and some without aeration - at different drip depths in a heavy clay soil, with encouraging results.

Aeration of irrigation water can be achieved by different methods. To date, CQU’s Plant Sciences Group has largely relied on the Mazzei air injection system where a venture (air injectors) are used for mixing air with irrigation water.

Photo: Surya Bhattarai out in the field.