Dr Matthias Salomon
ARC Grant-Funded Researcher (A)
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I am an early career researcher interested in novel and emerging trends to improve sustainability in food production. I approach this through the lens of soil ecology and exploring the interactions between plants, soil, and microorganisms.
My current research focuses on insect frass, a byproduct of the insect protein industry and a potent fertiliser. As part of an AgriFutures Emerging Industry project, I aim to uncover the full potential of frass. Not only as a nutrient source but also as a means to enhance plant resilience and soil health.
Previous research centred on agave as a novel crop, which is well adapted to the Australian agricultural landscape. Agaves can achieve high yields even on marginal land, making them ideal for Australia’s challenging environments. While best known as the raw material for tequila, agave has over 25 different commercial uses due to its high concentration of sugars and strong fibres.
I also maintain a strong interest in urban agriculture, which was the focus of my PhD work. My thesis examined soil health in urban agricultural systems, emphasising the role of beneficial microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. I strongly belief that urban agriculture remains a promising strategy to align food production with population density and to strengthen community resilience.
My work is driven by a commitment to applied outcomes that address global challenges. I believe that agriculture should not be part of the problem, but part of the solution.
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Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2017 - 2021 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD 2014 - 2016 Technical University Munich, Munich Germany M. Sc. Horticultural Sciences 2011 - 2014 Technical University Munich, Munich Germany B. Sc. Agri- and Horticultural Sciences -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2018 - 2018 International training on in vitro culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Université Catholique de Louvain Belgium -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2025 Salomon, M. J., & Watts-Williams, S. J. (2025). Realising the promise of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biofertilisers through more applied research. New Phytologist, 246(3), 811-813.
Scopus4 WoS2 Europe PMC12025 Weinberger, N. V., Cibils-Stewart, X., Brien, C., Jewell, N., Berger, B., Cavagnaro, T. R., . . . Powell, J. R. (2025). Plant phenotyping and root-associated metabolomics reveal insights into pathogen protection by diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plants, People, Planet, 7(4), 1180-1194.
Scopus2 WoS22025 Salomon, M. J., Cavagnaro, T. R., & Burton, R. A. (2025). Potential of black soldier fly larvae frass (BSFL) as a novel fertilizer: impacts on tomato growth, nutrient uptake, and mycorrhizal formation. PLANT AND SOIL, 513(1), 18 pages.
Scopus11 WoS92025 Thwaites, H. J., Suh, J., Coote, G. M., Nursey-Bray, M., Cavagnaro, T. R., & Salomon, M. J. (2025). Urban food forests: Seeing the fruit for the trees - A systematic quantitative literature review and emerging research gaps. Journal of Cleaner Production, 501, 13 pages.
Scopus2 WoS22025 Mason, A. R. G., Salomon, M. J., Lowe, A. J., & Cavagnaro, T. R. (2025). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and biochar application enhance soil carbon and productivity in wheat and barley.. Sci Total Environ, 977, 179230.
Scopus1 Europe PMC12025 Salomon, M. J., & Burton, R. A. (2025). Exploring arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in Agave tequilana: Insights into mycorrhizal partnerships of an emerging crop. Mycorrhiza, 35(5), 52-1-52-14.
Scopus12025 Salomon, M. J., & Burton, R. A. (2025). Agave Leaf Mulch as a Biological Amendment for Increased Plant Biomass and Amelioration of Acidic Soils. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.
2024 Mason, A. R. G., AJ, L., Brien, C., Jewell, N., Cavagnaro, T. R., & Salomon, M. J. (2024). Response of wheat to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and biochar application: implications for soil carbon sequestration. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 199, 109611.
Scopus6 WoS32023 Bicharanloo, B., Salomon, M. J., Cavagnaro, T. R., Keitel, C., Brien, C., Jewell, N., . . . Dijkstra, F. A. (2023). Arbuscular mycorrhizae are important for phosphorus uptake and root biomass, and exudation for nitrogen uptake in tomato plants grown under variable water conditions. Plant and Soil, 490(1-2), 325-342.
Scopus5 WoS52023 Mason, A. R. G., Salomon, M. J., Lowe, A. J., & Cavagnaro, T. R. (2023). Microbial solutions to soil carbon sequestration. Journal of Cleaner Production, 417, 1-10.
Scopus76 WoS642022 Salomon, M. J., Demarmels, R., Watts-Williams, S. J., McLaughlin, M. J., Kafle, A., Ketelsen, C., . . . van der Heijden, M. G. A. (2022). Global evaluation of commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculants under greenhouse and field conditions. Applied Soil Ecology, 169, 11 pages.
Scopus123 WoS1032022 Salomon, M. J., Watts-Williams, S. J., McLaughlin, M. J., & Cavagnaro, T. R. (2022). Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil health in urban agriculture. Science of the Total Environment, 805, 12 pages.
Scopus11 WoS8 Europe PMC12022 Salomon, M. J., & Cavagnaro, T. R. (2022). Healthy soils: The backbone of productive, safe and sustainable urban agriculture. Journal of Cleaner Production, 341, 12 pages.
Scopus47 WoS352022 Salomon, M. J., Watts-Williams, S. J., McLaughlin, M. J., Bücking, H., Singh, B. K., Hutter, I., . . . van der Heijden, M. G. A. (2022). Establishing a quality management framework for commercial inoculants containing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. iScience, 25(7), 11 pages.
Scopus52 WoS43 Europe PMC212021 Salomon, M. J., Watts-Williams, S. J., McLaughlin, M. J., Brien, C. J., Jewell, N., Berger, B., & Cavagnaro, T. R. (2021). Evaluation of commercial composts and potting mixes and their ability to support arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with maize (Zea mays) as host plant.. Waste Management, 134, 187-196.
Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC42020 Salomon, M. J., Watts-Williams, S. J., McLaughlin, M. J., & Cavagnaro, T. R. (2020). Urban soil health: A city-wide survey of chemical and biological properties of urban agriculture soils. Journal of Cleaner Production, 275, 122900-1-122900-11.
Scopus47 WoS35 Europe PMC92016 Rombach, M., Bitsch, V., Nellen, A., & Salomon, M. (2016). Dumpster diving in Germany. Acta Horticulturae, 1132(1132), 167-174.
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Co-Supervisor Systematic monitoring of emerging contaminant immobilisation in soil Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Shrinath Bhat 2024 Co-Supervisor Enhancing phosphorus use efficiency in macadamia production using beneficial soil microbes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Chrysanthea Claire Budiman 2023 Co-Supervisor Development of innovative nano-structured amendments for improving soil structural stability in alkaline dispersive soils Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Zeinab Ghasemzadeh 2022 Co-Supervisor Sustainable Agriculture at Scale: biotechnology, carbon sequestration and nature capital Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alexander Robert George Mason -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2022 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Biotechnology for soil carbon sequestration and sustainable agriculture. University of Adelaide - Doctorate - Alexander Mason
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