Dr Han Weng
Adjunct Research Fellow
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Researcher biography
Dr Han Weng is an emerging global leader in soil carbon research. His track record of interdisciplinary, innovative and high-quality research is outstanding for his early career stage. Dr Weng has 20 peer-reviewed papers (eight published since joining UQ in 2020) featuring in the highest impact journals of his research field, particularly those focused on environmental sciences and soil science. His first-author publications feature in Nature Climate Change (IF 25.3), Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology (IF 12.6), Science of the Total Environment (IF 8.0), and Soil Biology and Biochemistry (IF 7.6). To date, he has been cited over 530 times, and has an h-index of 10, and has a Field-Weighted Citation Impact factor of 2.82 (SciVal). This indicates that his papers are being cited 2.82 times more than the world average for publications of the same age and discipline. His achievement also includes one Highly Cited Paper as the first author in Nature Climate Change, which ranks in the top 1% in the field of environmental sciences, and the most downloaded article in 2021 (10,419 times) in Global Change Biology Bioenergy (IF 4.8).
Dr Weng has challenged the existing body of research on soil carbon. His research fills an important gap for maintaining agricultural productivity and mitigating climate change in the absence of a clear national strategy for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Weng's outstanding contribution to the food and agriculture sector has been recognised through cross-disciplinary awards and competitive prizes, including 2014 Soil Science Australia Best oral presentation under 35 years of age and 2016 New Initiative Grant Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University.
Book Chapter
Cowie, Annette, Azzi, Elias, Weng, Zhe Han and Woolf, Dominic (2024). Biochar, greenhouse gas accounting, and climate change mitigation. Biochar for Environmental Management. (pp. 759-784) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003297673-30
Journal Articles
Barnard, Meghan, Dalal, Ram C., Weng, Zhe H., Schweizer, Steffen A. and Kopittke, Peter M. (2024). Physicochemical protection is more important than chemical functional composition in controlling soil organic carbon retention following long-term land-use change. Geoderma, 452 117098, 117098. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117098
Schweizer, Steffen A., Bachelder, Jill, Hoeschen, Carmen, Weng, Zhe H., Kopittke, Peter M., Frossard, Emmanuel and Wiggenhauser, Matthias (2024). Preferential Zn and Cd Hotspots in Soil Microarchitecture. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00401
Hondroudakis, Laura, Kopittke, Peter M., Dalal, Ram C., Barnard, Meghan and Weng, Zhe H. (2024). The influence of land use and management on the behaviour and persistence of soil organic carbon in a subtropical Ferralsol. SOIL, 10 (2), 451-465. doi: 10.5194/soil-10-451-2024
Weng, Zhe H., Kopittke, Peter M., Schweizer, Steffen, Jin, Jian, Armstrong, Roger, Rose, Michael, Zheng, Yunyun, Franks, Ashley and Tang, Caixian (2024). Shining a light on how soil organic carbon behaves at fine scales under long-term elevated CO2: An 8 year free-air carbon dioxide enrichment study. Environmental Science and Technology, 58 (20), 8724-8735. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10680
Luutu, Henry, Rose, Michael T., McIntosh, Shane, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Weng, Han H., Pocock, Matt and Rose, Terry J. (2023). Phytotoxicity induced by soil-applied hydrothermally-carbonised waste amendments: effect of reaction temperature, feedstock and soil nutrition. Plant and Soil, 493 (1-2), 647-661. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-06265-3
Chen, Yalan, Du, Zhangliu, Weng, Zhe (Han), Sun, Ke, Zhang, Yuqin, Liu, Qin, Yang, Yan, Li, Yang, Wang, Zhibo, Luo, Yu, Gao, Bo, Chen, Bin, Pan, Zezhen and Van Zwieten, Lukas (2023). Formation of soil organic carbon pool is regulated by the structure of dissolved organic matter and microbial carbon pump efficacy: A decadal study comparing different carbon management strategies. Global Change Biology, 29 (18), 5445-5459. doi: 10.1111/gcb.16865
Yao, Bicheng, Zhao, Jiamin, Ding, Siyang, Giel, Marie-Claire, Zhang, Guoqiang, Ding, Dan, Tang, Youhong, Weng, Zhe H. and Hong, Yuning (2023). A novel red-emitting aggregation-induced emission probe for determination of β-glucosidase activity. Biomaterials, 295 122046, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122046
Wang, Yang, Joseph, Stephen, Wang, Xiang, Weng, Zhe H., Mitchell, David R.G., Nancarrow, Mitchell, Taherymoosavi, Sarasadat, Munroe, Paul, Li, Guitong, Lin, Qimei, Chen, Qing, Flury, Markus, Cowie, Annette, Husson, Olivier, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Kuzyakov, Yakov, Lehmann, Johannes, Li, Baoguo and Shang, Jianying (2023). Inducing inorganic carbon accrual in subsoil through biochar application on calcareous topsoil. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (4), 1837-1847. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06419
Weng, Zhe, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Tavakkoli, Ehsan, Rose, Michael T., Singh, Bhupinder Pal, Joseph, Stephen, Macdonald, Lynne M., Kimber, Stephen, Morris, Stephen, Rose, Terry J., Archanjo, Braulio S., Tang, Caixian, Franks, Ashley E., Diao, Hui, Schweizer, Steffen, Tobin, Mark J., Klein, Annaleise R., Vongsvivut, Jitraporn, Chang, Shery L. Y., Kopittke, Peter M. and Cowie, Annette (2022). Microspectroscopic visualization of how biochar lifts the soil organic carbon ceiling. Nature Communications, 13 (1) 5177, 5177. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-32819-7
Fang, Yunying, Tavakkoli, Ehsan, Weng, Zhe (Han), Collins, Damian, Harvey, Deirdre, Karimian, Niloofar, Luo, Yu, Mehra, Promil, Rose, Michael T., Wilhelm, Nigel and Van Zwieten, Lukas (2022). Disentangling carbon stabilization in a Calcisol subsoil amended with iron oxyhydroxides: a dual-13C isotope approach. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 170 108711, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108711
Doolette, Casey L., Howard, Daryl L., Afshar, Nader, Kewish, Cameron M., Paterson, David J., Huang, Jianyin, Wagner, Stefan, Santner, Jakob, Wenzel, Walter W., Raimondo, Tom, De Vries Van Leeuwen, Alexander T., Hou, Lei, van der Bom, Frederik, Weng, Han, Kopittke, Peter M. and Lombi, Enzo (2022). Tandem probe analysis mode for synchrotron XFM: doubling throughput capacity. Analytical Chemistry, 94 (11), 4584-4593. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04255
Weng, Zhe (Han), Li, Guangdi, Sale, Peter and Tang, Caixian (2022). Application of calcium nitrate with phosphorus promotes rhizosphere alkalization in acid subsoil. European Journal of Soil Science, 73 (1) ejss.13153. doi: 10.1111/ejss.13153
Hou, Lei (Helen), Gao, Wei, der Bom, Frederik, Weng, Zhe (Han), Doolette, Casey L., Maksimenko, Anton, Hausermann, Daniel, Zheng, Yunyun, Tang, Caixian, Lombi, Enzo and Kopittke, Peter M. (2022). Use of X-ray tomography for examining root architecture in soils. Geoderma, 405 115405, 115405. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115405
Fang, Yunying, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Rose, Michael T., Vasileiadis, Sotirios, Donner, Erica, Vancov, Tony, Rigg, Jessica L., Weng, Zhe (Han), Lombi, Enzo, Drigo, Barbara, Conyers, Mark and Tavakkoli, Ehsan (2022). Unraveling microbiomes and functions associated with strategic tillage, stubble, and fertilizer management. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 323 107686, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2021.107686
Weng, Zhe (Han), Lehmann, Johannes, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Joseph, Stephen, Archanjo, Braulio S., Cowie, Bruce, Thomsen, Lars, Tobin, Mark J., Vongsvivut, Jitraporn, Klein, Annaleise, Doolette, Casey L., Hou, Helen, Mueller, Carsten W., Lombi, Enzo and Kopittke, Peter M. (2021). Probing the nature of soil organic matter. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 52 (22), 1-22. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2021.1980346
Joseph, Stephen, Cowie, Annette L., Van Zwieten, Lukas, Bolan, Nanthi, Budai, Alice, Buss, Wolfram, Cayuela, Maria Luz, Graber, Ellen R., Ippolito, Jim, Kuzyakov, Yakov, Luo, Yu, Ok, Yong Sik, Palansooriya, Kumuduni Niroshika, Shepherd, Jessica, Stephens, Scott, Weng, Zhe (Han) and Lehmann, Johannes (2021). How biochar works, and when it doesn't: a review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar. GCB Bioenergy, 13 (11) gcbb.12885, 1731-1764. doi: 10.1111/gcbb.12885
Weng, Zhe (Han), Butterly, Clayton R., Sale, Peter, Li, Guangdi and Tang, Caixian (2021). Combined nitrate and phosphorus application promotes rhizosphere alkalization and nitrogen uptake by wheat but not canola in acid subsoils. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 21 (9), 2995-3006. doi: 10.1007/s11368-021-03000-2
Lauricella, Dominic, Weng, Zhe (Han), Clark, Gary J., Butterly, Clayton R., Li, Guangdi, Gazey, Chris, Sale, Peter W. G. and Tang, Caixian (2021). Biochars and their feedstocks differ in their short-term effects in ameliorating acid soils grown with aluminium-sensitive wheat. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 21 (8), 2805-2816. doi: 10.1007/s11368-021-03001-1
Lauricella, Dominic, Butterly, Clayton R., Weng, Zhe (Han), Clark, Gary J., Sale, Peter W. G., Li, Guangdi and Tang, Caixian (2020). Impact of novel materials on alkalinity movement down acid soil profiles when combined with lime. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 21 (1), 52-62. doi: 10.1007/s11368-020-02747-4
Weng, Zhe (Han), Liu, Xihui, Eldridge, Simon, Wang, Hailong, Rose, Terry, Rose, Mick, Rust, Josh, Singh, Bhupinder Pal, Tavakkoli, Ehsan, Tang, Caixian, Ou, Huiping and Van Zwieten, Lukas (2020). Priming of soil organic carbon induced by sugarcane residues and its biochar control the source of nitrogen for plant uptake: a dual 13C and 15N isotope three-source-partitioning study. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 146 107792. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107792
Rose, Terry J., Schefe, Cassandra, Weng, Zhe (Han), Rose, Michael T., van Zwieten, Lukas, Liu, Lei and Rose, Andrew L. (2019). Phosphorus speciation and bioavailability in diverse biochars. Plant and Soil, 443 (1-2), 233-244. doi: 10.1007/s11104-019-04219-2
Weng, Zhe, Rose, Michael T., Tavakkoli, Ehsan, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Styles, Gavin, Bennett, William and Lombi, Enzo (2019). Assessing plant-available glyphosate in contrasting soils by diffusive gradient in thin-films technique (DGT). Science of the Total Environment, 646, 735-744. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.221
Claassens, Anders, Rose, Michael T., Van Zwieten, Lukas, Weng, Zhe (Han) and Rose, Terry J. (2019). Soilborne glyphosate residue thresholds for wheat seedling metabolite profiles and fungal root endophyte colonisation are lower than for biomass production in a sandy soil. Plant and Soil, 438 (1-2), 393-404. doi: 10.1007/s11104-019-04023-y
Nguyen, Thi Thu Nhan, Wallace, Helen M., Xu, Cheng-Yuan, (Van) Zwieten, Lukas, Weng, Zhe Han, Xu, Zhihong, Che, Rongxiao, Tahmasbian, Iman, Hu, Hang-Wei and Bai, Shahla Hosseini (2018). The effects of short term, long term and reapplication of biochar on soil bacteria. Science of the Total Environment, 636, 142-151. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.278
Rose, Michael T., Ng, Ee Ling, Weng, Zhe (Han), Wood, Rachel, Rose, Terry J. and Van Zwieten, Lukas (2018). Minor effects of herbicides on microbial activity in agricultural soils are detected by N-transformation but not enzyme activity assays. European Journal of Soil Biology, 87, 72-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ejsobi.2018.04.003
Ding, Fan, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Zhang, Weidong, Weng, Zhe (Han), Shi, Shengwei, Wang, Jingkuan and Meng, Jun (2018). A meta-analysis and critical evaluation of influencing factors on soil carbon priming following biochar amendment. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 18 (4), 1507-1517. doi: 10.1007/s11368-017-1899-6
Weng, Zhe (Han), Van Zwieten, Lukas, Singh, Bhupinder Pal, Tavakkoli, Ehsan, Kimber, Stephen, Morris, Stephen, Macdonald, Lynne M. and Cowie, Annette (2018). The accumulation of rhizodeposits in organo-mineral fractions promoted biochar-induced negative priming of native soil organic carbon in Ferralsol. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 118, 91-96. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.12.008
Archanjo, B. S., Mendoza, M. E., Albu, M., Mitchell, D. R.G., Hagemann, N., Mayrhofer, C., Mai, Thi Lan Anh, Weng, Zhe, Kappler, A., Behrens, S., Munroe, P., Achete, C. A., Donne, S., Araujo, J. R., van Zwieten, L., Horvat, J., Enders, A. and Joseph, S. (2017). Nanoscale analyses of the surface structure and composition of biochars extracted from field trials or after co-composting using advanced analytical electron microscopy. Geoderma, 294, 70-79. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.01.037
Han Weng, Zhe, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Singh, Bhupinder Pal, Tavakkoli, Ehsan, Joseph, Stephen, Macdonald, Lynne M., Rose, Terry J., Rose, Michael T., Kimber, Stephen W. L., Morris, Stephen, Cozzolino, Daniel, Araujo, Joyce R., Archanjo, Braulio S. and Cowie, Annette (2017). Biochar built soil carbon over a decade by stabilizing rhizodeposits. Nature Climate Change, 7 (5), 371-376. doi: 10.1038/nclimate3276
Weng, Zhe Han, Van Zwieten, Lukas, Singh, Bhupinder Pal, Kimber, Stephen, Morris, Stephen, Cowie, Annette and Macdonald, Lynne M. (2015). Plant-biochar interactions drive the negative priming of soil organic carbon in an annual ryegrass field system. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 90, 111-121. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.08.005
Newspaper Article
Cowie, Annette , Weng, Han , Van Zwieten, Lukas , Joseph, Stephen and Buss, Wolfram (2020, 09 21). The Morrison government wants to suck CO₂ out of the atmosphere. Here are 7 ways to do it The Conversation
Data Collections
Barnard, Meghan, Kopittke, Peter and Weng, Han (2024). Queensland vertisol data - SOC vs fine fraction content.. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/2cda525
Barnard, Meghan, Kopittke, Peter and Weng, Han (2024). Queensland vertisol data. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/92b825f
Barnard, Meghan, Kopittke, Peter and Weng, Han (2024). Rothamsted sulfur speciation dataset. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/9773a9d
Barnard, Meghan, Kopittke, Peter and Weng, Han (2023). Data from experiments on soil carbon. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8a30f90