Dr Gunnar Kirchhof
Principal Research Fellow
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Hartley Teakle Building (83), Room N219, St Lucia Campus
Teaching and Development
- LAND2003 Soil environment
- LAND3005 Soil Plant Relationships
- LAND3007 Land Use and Management
- LAND3006 Soils, Landscapes and Environments
- LAND7000 Soil and Water Management
Researcher biography
May 2002–ongoing: Senior Lecturer Land Resources Sciences, Principla Research Fellow, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences; The University of Queensland, Australia
As lecturer of Land Resources Sciences at the University of Queensland, Dr Kirchhof has both led and collaborated on over half a dozen projects, and supervised numerous research staff and students. His research has focussed on:
- Soil–Water relationships;
- Conservation Agriculture and Irrigation scheduling
- Soil erosion
- Water and Nutrient Balances;
- Spatial Variability of Soil Properties from Ped to Landscape Scales;
- Dry-land Salinity Management;
- Water Recycling
- Computer Modelling of Water Flow with Special Reference to Variability and assessment of deep drainage
- Knowledge Management;
2011-15 Course leader: Australia Awards in Africa Dryland Farming/Soil and Water conservation Short Course Awards, UniQuest; Australia and Africa, Dr Kirchhof led the design and delivery of the AusAID-funded Dryland Farming Short Course Award, contracted to UniQuest/UQ-ID through GRM International, which was delivered twice a year in 2011 and 2014.
Countries of work experience: Indonesia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Burkino Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Kenya, Tunisia, Australia.
Previous postions:
Oct 1997–May 2002: Senior Soil Scientist, Soil Conservation, NSW Agriculture; Australia
Mar 1996–Oct 1997: Soil Physicist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture; Ibadan, Nigeria
Dec 1991–Mar 1996: Research Fellow, Department of Agriculture, The University of Queensland; Brisbane
Jan 1989–Dec 1991: Soil Scientist, CASSIRO Ltd, Wauchope, NSW
Publications
Book
Menzies, Neal , Page, Kathryn , Dalal, Ram , Dang, Yash , Kopittke, Peter , Wehr, Bernhard , Orton, Thomas , Kirchhof, G. and Fujinuma, R. (2017). Technical Management of soil physical and chemical constraints to grains cropping in Queensland and New South Wales: A review. Technical Final report (UQ00084). Canberra, ACT, Australia: GRDC.
Book Chapters
Kirchhof, Gunnar, Tuong, T. P. and So, H. B. (2011). Puddling: effect on soil physical properties and crops. Encyclopedia of agrophysics. (pp. 667-668) edited by Jan Gliński, Józef, Horabik and Jerzy Lipiec. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-90-481-3585-1_129
Junge, B., Deji, O., Abaidoo, R., Chikoye, D. and Kirchhof, G. (2009). Overview of soil conservation technologies and their perception by farmers in Nigeria. Soil fertility in sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. (pp. 49-59) edited by Gunnar Kirchhof. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Kirchhof, Gunnar, Taraken, Issac T., Ramakrishna, Akkinapally, Ratsch, Rainer and Igua, Passinghan (2009). Biophysical constraints of sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the Papua New Guinea highlands. Soil fertility in sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. (pp. 95-109) edited by Gunnar Kirchhof. Canberra, A.C.T., Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Wegener, M., Kirchhof, G. and Wilson, T. (2009). An analysis of village garden management in the Papua New Guinea highlands. Soil fertility in sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. (pp. 88-94) edited by Gunnar Kirchhof. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Kravchuk, O., Wilson, T. and Kirchhof, G. (2009). Statistical methods for a soil fertility management survey analysis in Papua New Guinea. Soil fertility in sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. (pp. 79-87) edited by Gunnar Kirchhof. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Kirchhof, G., Taraken, I.T., Ratsch, R., Kapal, D. and Igua, P. (2009). Survey methodology to assess socioeconomic and biophysical constraints—lessons learnt in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Soil fertility in sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. (pp. 70-78) edited by Gunnar Kirchhof. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Kirchhof, Gunnar and Daniells, Ian (2009). Changing tillage management practices and their impact on soil structural properties in north-western New South Wales, Australia. Soil fertility in sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. (pp. 60-69) edited by Gunnar Kirchhof. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Kirchhof, G., Odunze, A. C. and Salako, F. K. (2009). Soil management in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Soil fertility in sweetpotato-based cropping systems in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. (pp. 43-48) edited by Gunnar Kirchhof. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Kirchhof, Gunnar (2007). Plastic properties. Encyclopedia of soil science. edited by Rattan Lal. New York, United States: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1081/E-ESS-120001587
Journal Articles
Schweizer, Steffen A., Graf-Rosenfellner, Markus, Bhat, Nisar A., Kayser, Gilles, Sisodia, Bhupendra S., Kirchhof, Gunnar, Zikeli, Sabine, Cadisch, Georg and Bhullar, Gurbir S. (2022). Responses of soil organic carbon, aggregate diameters, and hydraulic properties to long-term organic and conventional farming on a Vertisol in India. Land Degradation and Development, 33 (5), 785-797. doi: 10.1002/ldr.4216
Hati, Kuntal M., Jha, Pramod, Dalal, Ram C., Jayaraman, Somasundaram, Dang, Yash P., Kopittke, Peter M., Kirchhof, Gunnar and Menzies, Neal W. (2021). 50 years of continuous no-tillage, stubble retention and nitrogen fertilization enhanced macro-aggregate formation and stabilisation in a Vertisol. Soil and Tillage Research, 214 105163, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2021.105163
Wehr, J. Bernhard and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2021). Gamma irradiation with 50 kGy has a limited effect on agronomic properties of air-dry soil. Soil Systems, 5 (2) 28, 28. doi: 10.3390/soilsystems5020028
Page, K. L., Dalal, R. C., Wehr, J. B., Dang, Y. P., Kopittke, P. M., Kirchhof, G., Fujinuma, R. and Menzies, N. W. (2018). Management of the major chemical soil constraints affecting yields in the grain growing region of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia – a review. Soil Research, 56 (8), 765-779. doi: 10.1071/sr18233
Taranet, P., Kirchhof, G., Fujinuma, R. and Menzies, N. (2018). Root zone temperature alters storage root formation and growth of sweetpotato. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 204 (3), 313-324. doi: 10.1111/jac.12262
Fujinuma, Ryosuke, Kirchhof, Gunnar, Ramakrishna, Akkinapally, Sirabis, William, Yapo, Jeffery, Woruba, Deane, Gurr, Geoff and Menzies, Neal (2018). Intensified sweetpotato production in Papua New Guinea drives plant nutrient decline over the last decade. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 254, 10-19. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2017.11.012
Sheldon, Anna R., Dalal, Ram C., Kirchhof, Gunnar, Kopittke, Peter M. and Menzies, Neal W. (2017). The effect of salinity on plant-available water. Plant and Soil, 418 (1-2), 477-491. doi: 10.1007/s11104-017-3309-7
Taranet, Prapa, Harper, Stephen, Kirchhof, Gunnar, Fujinuma, Ryosuke and Menzies, Neal (2017). Growth and yield response of glasshouse- and field-grown sweetpotato to nitrogen supply. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 108 (3), 309-321. doi: 10.1007/s10705-017-9858-6
Gurr, G.M., Johnson, A.C., Waruba, D.N., Kirchhof, G., Fujinuma, R., Sirabis, W., Jeffery, Y. and Akkinapally, R. (2016). Pests, diseases and crop protection practices in the smallholder sweetpotato production system of the highlands of Papua New Guinea. PeerJ, 4 (12) e2703, e2703. doi: 10.7717/peerj.2703
Gurr, Geoff M., Liu, Jian, Johnson, Anne C., Woruba, Deane N., Kirchhof, Gunnar, Fujinuma, Ryosuke, Sirabis, William, Jeffery, Yapo and Akkinapally, Ramakrishna (2016). Pests, diseases and crop protection practices in the smallholder sweetpotato production system of the highlands of Papua New Guinea. PeerJ, 4 (12) e2703. doi: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.2394
Gageler, Rose, Bonner, Mark, Kirchhof, Gunnar, Amos, Mark, Robinson, Nicole, Schmidt, Susanne and Shoo, Luke P. (2014). Early response of soil properties and function to riparian rainforest restoration. PLoS One, 9 (8) e104198, e104198.1-e104198.8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104198
Radrizzani, Alejandro, Shelton, H. Max, Dalzell, Scott A. and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2011). Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland. Crop and Pasture Science, 62 (4), 337-345. doi: 10.1071/CP10115
Liu, Yun, Sabboh, Houda, Kirchhof, Gunnar and Sopade, Peter (2010). In vitro starch digestion and potassium release in sweet potato from Papua New Guinea dagger. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 45 (9), 1925-1931. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2010.02356.x
Bah, A.R., Kravchuk, O. and Kirchhof, G. (2009). Sensitivity of drainage to rainfall, vegetation and soil characteristics. Computers And Electronics In Agriculture, 68 (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2009.03.005
Bah, A.R., Kravchuk, O. and Kirchhof, G. (2009). Fitting performance of particle-size distribution models on data derived by conventional and laser diffraction techniques. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 73 (4), 1101-1107. doi: 10.2136/sssaj2007.0433
Ramakrishna, A., Bailey, J. S. and Kirchhof, G. (2009). A preliminary diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) model for diagnosing the nutrient status of sweet potato (Ipomea batatas). Plant and Soil, 316 (1-2), 107-116. doi: 10.1007/s11104-008-9763-5
Bailey, J. S., Ramakrishna, A. and Kirchhof, G. (2009). An evaluation of nutritional constraints on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) production in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea. Plant and soil, 316 (1-2), 97-105. doi: 10.1007/s11104-008-9762-6
Beal, C.D., Rassam, D.W., Gardner, E.A., Kirchhof, G. and Menzies, N. W. (2008). Influence of hydraulic loading and effluent flux on surface surcharging in soil absorption systems. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 13 (8), 681-692. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0699(2008)13:8(681)
Bailey, J.S., Ramakrishna, A. and Kirchhof, G. (2008). Relationships between important soil variables in moderately acidic soils (ph>5.5)in the highlands of Papua New Guinea and management implications for subsistence farmers. Soil Use And Management, 24 (3), 281-291. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2008.00161.x
Kirchhof, G., Ramakrishna, K. and Bailey, J.S. (2008). An evaluation of Colwell-P as a measure of plant-available phosphorus in soils of volcanic and non-volcanic origins in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Soil Use And Management, 24 (4), 331-336. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2008.00160.x
Salako, E. K., Olowokere, E. A., Tian, G., Kirchhof, G. and Osiname, O. (2007). Ground cover by three crops cultivated on marginal lands in southwestern Nigeria and implications for soil erosion. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 5 (4), 497-505. doi: 10.5424/sjar/2007054-272
Beal, CD, Gardner, EA, Kirchhof, G and Menzies, NW (2006). Long-term flow rates and biomat zone hydrology in soil columns receiving septic tank effluent. Water Research, 40 (12), 2327-2338. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2006.04.018
Salako, K., Tian,, Kirchhof, G. and Akinbola, G.E. (2006). Soil particles in agricultural landscapes of a derived savanna in southwestern Nigeria and implications for selectedsoil properties. Geoderma, 137 (1-2), 90-99. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2006.06.017
Salako, F. K., Kirchhof, G. and Tian, G. (2006). Management of a previously eroded tropical Alfisol with herbaceous legumes: Soil loss and physical properties under mound tillage. Soil & Tillage Research, 89 (2), 185-195. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2005.07.010
Kirchhof, G. and So, H. B. (2005). Rice growth and post-rice mungbean in relation to two puddling intensities under glasshouse conditions. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 43 (5), 623-628. doi: 10.1071/SR04067
Kirchhof, G. and So, H. B. (2005). Soil puddling for rice production under glasshouse conditions—its quantification and effect on soil physical properties. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 43 (5), 617-622. doi: 10.1071/SR04068
Loetscher, T., Dart, P. J., Kirchhof, G. and Gray, S. (2005). NAIAD: sharing lessons from innovative urban water schemes. Water, 32 (6), 60-62.
Salako, F.K. and Kirchhof, G. (2003). Field hydraulic properties of an Alfisol under various fallow systems in southwestern Nigeria. Soil Use And Management, 19 (4), 340-346. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2003.tb00324.x
Kirchhof, G. and Daniel, H. (2003). A technique to assess small-scale heterogeneity of chemical properties in soil aggregates. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 41 (5), 919-932. doi: 10.1071/SR02125
Kirchhof, G., So, H. B., Adisarwanto, T., Utomo, W. H., Priyono, S., Prastowo, B., Basir, M., Lando, T. M., Subandi, Dacanay, E. V., Tan-Elicano, D. and Sanidad, W. B. (2000). Growth and yield response of grain legumes to different soil management practices after rainfed lowland rice. Soil and Tillage Research, 56 (1-2), 51-66. doi: 10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00122-7
Schafer, B. and Kirchhof, G. (2000). The soil and climate characterisation of benchmark sites for lowland rice-based cropping systems research in the Phillippines and Indonesia. Soil and Tillage Research, 56 (1-2), 15-35. doi: 10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00120-3
So, B. H. B. and Kirchhof, G. (2000). Management of clay soils for rainfed lowland rice-based cropping system. Soil and Tillage Research, 56 (1-2), 1-2. doi: 10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00118-5
Kirchhof, G., Priyono, S., Utomo, W. H., Adisarwanto, T., Dacanay, E. and So, B. H. B. (2000). The effect of soil puddling on the soil, physical properties and the growth of rice and post-rice crops. Soil and Tillage Research, 56 (1-2), 37-50. doi: 10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00121-5
Rahmianna, AA, Adisarwanto, T, Kirchhof, G and So, HB (2000). Crop establishment of legumes in rainfed lowland rice-based cropping systems. Soil and Tillage Research, 56 (1-2), 67-82. doi: 10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00123-9
Jayawardane, N. S., Barrs, H. D., Muirhead, W. A., Blackwell, J., Murray, E. and Kirchhof, G. (1995). Lime-Slotting Technique To Ameliorate Subsoil Acidity In A Clay Soil. II. Effects On Medic Root Growth, Water Extraction And Yield. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 33 (3), 443-459. doi: 10.1071/SR9950443
Kirchhof, G., Jayawardane, N. S., Blackwell, J. and Murray, E. (1995). Lime-slotting technique to ameliorate subsoil acidity in a clay soil. I. effects on soil ph and physical characteristics. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 33 (3), 425-441. doi: 10.1071/SR9950425
Conference Papers
Jeffrey, Yapo, Sirabis, William, Atung, Cyril, Ramakrishna, Akkinapally, Wehr, Bernhard, Menzies, Neal and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2021). Soil fertility management techniques for increased sweetpotato root yield in Papua New Guinea (PNG) highlands. The Soil Science Australia and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science Joint Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June - 2 July 2021.
Yeffrey, Yapo, Sirabis, William, Wehr, Bernhard, Menzies, Neal and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2021). Sweetpotato yield comparison from pathogen tested and non-pathogen tested vines with coffee pulp in the PNG Highlands. The Soil Science Australia and the New Zealand Society of Soil Science Joint Conference., Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June - 2 July 2021.
Lastic, Rachel de, Hoàng, Thảo, Nguyen, Phuong, Son, Sovanda, Suos, Vuthy and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2020). Assessment of soil structural properties in relation to land use change in South-East Asia. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036182
Ogunwole, Joshua, Kirchhof, Gunnar, Birhanu, Birhanu Z., Duiker, Sjoerd and Pires, Luiz F. (2020). Jatropha curcas development as intervention potential to tackling land, energy and food challenges of rural communities in dryland sub-Saharan Africa. Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI . doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036085
Liu, Y., Sabboh, H., Kirchhof, G. and Sopade, P. A. (2009). Digestibility of starch and potassium in sweetpotato from Papua New Guinea. 15th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops, Lima, Peru, 2-6 November 2009. Peru: International Society for Tropical Root Crops.
Kirchhof, G. and Ramakrishna A. (2008). Soil fertility assessment of soils in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Soils2008 Conference – Soil, the living skin of planet Earth, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 1-5 December 2008. New Zealand: AGMARDT.
Bah, Abdul R., Kravchuk, Olena and Kirchhof, Gunnar (2006). Impact of saturated hydraulic conductivity and rainfall on variability of predicted drainage. ASSSI – ASPAC – ACMS National Soils Conference - Soil Science Solving Problems, Adelaide, Australia, 3-7 December 2006. Australia: ASSSI-ASPAC-ACMS.
Radrizzani, A., Shelton, H. M., Kirchof, G. and Dalzell, S. A. (2005). Nitrogen cycling and grass sustainability in leucana-grass pastures - a research proposal. Australian Society of Animal Production, Central Queensland Sub-Branch Mini-conference, Rockhampton, Qld Australia, 5-6 July, 2005.
Loetscher, T., Gray, S., Kirchhof, G. and Dart, P. (2005). Naiad: Sharing lessons learned from innovative urban water schemes. Ozwater Conference 2005, Brisbane, 8-12 May 2005. [Willoughby, N.S.W]: Australian Water Association.
Bakti, L.A.A., So, B. H. B., Kirchhof, G. and Yatapanage, K. G. (2003). Structural regeneration of puddled soil. International Soil Tillage Research Organisation 16th Triennial Conference, The University of Queensland, 13-18 July, 2003. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
Kirchhof, G. and Daniells, I. (2003). Soil management practices in northern New South Wales. International Soil Tillage Research Organisation 16th Triennial Conference, The University of Queensland, 13-18 July, 2003. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
Danesh, M., Daniel, H. and Kirchhof, G. (2002). The impact of long-term crop rotations and residue management on physical properties of a northern NSW Black earth (Vertosol). Australian Society of Soil Science National Conference, Perth, Western Australia, 2-6 December, 2002. Perth, Western Australia: The Australian Society of Soil Science Inc..
Kirchhof, G., Johnson, I. and Daniel, H. (2002). Variability of deep drainage: paddock leakiness hot spots. Australian Society of Soil Science National Conference, Perth, Western Australia, 2-6 December, 2002. Perth, Western Australia: The Australian Society of Soil Science Inc.
So, H. B., Kirchhof, G., Bakker, R. and Smith, G. D. (2001). Low input tillage/cropping systems for limited resource areas. 15th Conference of the International Soil Tillage Research Organization, Texas, United States of America, 02-07 July 2000 JUL 02-07, 2000. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0167-1987(01)00182-9
Generic Document
Thesis
Kirchhof, Gunnar (1994). Compaction properties of vertisols and their potential effect on sunflower. PhD Thesis, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2015.469
Research Reports
Kirchhof, Gunnar (2022). Strengthening capacities to innovate through North-South collaborative agricultural research in Papua New Guinea. Asia-Pacific Islands Rural Advisory Services Network (APIRAS) Hyderabad Telangana, India: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Wehr, Bernhard, Kirchhof, Gunnar and Menzies, Neal (2020). Sustaining soil fertility in support of intensification of Sweetpotato cropping systems. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ACIAR.
Wehr, Bernhard, Kirchhoff, Gunnar and Menzies, Neal (2019). Sustaining soil fertility in support of intensification of Sweetpotato cropping systems. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ACIAR.