Dr Murray Unkovich
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
College of Science
Murray has a BSc in Biology (Murd.) and MSc and PhD in Botany (UWA).My research career has primarily focussed on the application of stable isotope techniques to study biological processes and the functioning of ecosystems. I have worked for the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (1991-1998), contributed to the National Land and Water Resources Audit, and the National Sate of the Environment Report, and worked with the Departments of Primary Industries (Victoria and South Australia). I was also involved in developing the national environmental guidelines for reclaimed water use in agriculture. From 2005 until 2015 I worked with CSIRO Land and Water and Climate Change Australia, on the National Carbon Accounting System (NCAS) for agriculture. Recent projects have been with The University of Queensland on agricultural development in India, with CSIRO on problems with cropping in sandy soils and with The university of Adelaide on nitrogen mineralisation and nitrogen decision support..
My current interests are in the area of soil conditions and plant growth, especially soil strength, and on biological nitrogen fixation by legumes.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 - ongoing | Adjunct lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | University of Western Australia | Australia | PhD |
| 1991 | University of Western Australia | Australia | MSc. |
| 1984 | Murdoch University | Australia | BSc |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Giller, K. E., James, E. K., Ardley, J., & Unkovich, M. J. (2025). Science losing its way: examples from the realm of microbial N2-fixation in cereals and other non-legumes. Plant and Soil, 511(1), 1-24. Scopus18 WoS19 |
| 2025 | Giller, K. E., James, E. K., Ardley, J., & Unkovich, M. J. (2025). Correction to: Science losing its way: examples from the realm of microbial N2-fixation in cereals and other non-legumes (Plant and Soil, (2025), 511, 1-2, (1-24), 10.1007/s11104-024-07001-1). Plant and Soil, 511(1), 25-26. |
| 2025 | Komarek, A. M., Bhanjdeo, A., Unkovich, M., Pandey, R., Kumar, A., Pradhan, G., . . . Bellotti, W. D. (2025). Assets and livelihood strategies of agricultural households on the East India Plateau. WORLD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES, 40, 11 pages. |
| 2023 | Unkovich, M., McBeath, T., Moodie, M., & Macdonald, L. M. (2023). High soil strength and cereal crop responses to deeper tillage on sandy soils in a semi-arid environment. Field Crops Research, 291, 12 pages. Scopus13 WoS12 |
| 2023 | Unkovich, M., McKenzie, D., & Parker, W. (2023). New insights into high soil strength and crop plants; implications for grain crop production in the Australian environment. Plant and Soil, 486(1-2), 183-208. Scopus18 WoS17 |
| 2023 | Manickam, R., Kaur, D. P., Vemula, A., Rathore, A., Unkovich, M., Bellotti, W., . . . Madhavan Nair, R. (2023). Diversifying vegetable production systems for improving the livelihood of resource poor farmers on the East Indian Plateau. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 15 pages. Scopus4 WoS5 |
| 2023 | Pipai, R., McNeill, A., Unkovich, M., Banabas, M., & Nelson, P. N. (2023). Biological nitrogen fixation by legume cover plants in oil palm plantations: calibration of the ureide technique and effects of plantation age and soil nitrate. Plant and Soil, 491(1-2), 665-680. Scopus3 WoS2 |
| 2021 | Huang, Y., Zhang, Z., Nan, Z., Unkovich, M., & Coulter, J. A. (2021). Effects of cultivar and growing degree day accumulations on forage partitioning and nutritive value of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) on the Tibetan plateau. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 101(9), 3749-3757. Scopus8 Europe PMC1 |
| 2020 | Unkovich, M., McBeath, T., Llewellyn, R., Hall, J., Gupta, V., & Macdonald, L. (2020). Challenges and opportunities for grain farming on sandy soils of semi-arid south and south-eastern Australia. Soil Research, 58(4), 323-334. Scopus21 WoS18 |
| 2020 | La Menza, N. C., Monzon, J. P., Lindquist, J. L., Arkebauer, T. J., Knops, J. M. H., Unkovich, M., . . . Grassini, P. (2020). Insufficient nitrogen supply from symbiotic fixation reduces seasonal crop growth and nitrogen mobilization to seed in highly productive soybean crops. PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 43(8), 1958-1972. WoS56 Europe PMC17 |
| 2020 | Unkovich, M., Herridge, D., James, E. K., Giller, K., & Peoples, M. B. (2020). Reliable quantification of N-2 fixation by non-legumes remains problematic. NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS, 118(3), 3 pages. Scopus12 WoS12 |
| 2018 | Unkovich, M., Baldock, J., & Farquharson, R. (2018). Field measurements of bare soil evaporation and crop transpiration, and transpiration efficiency, for rainfed grain crops in Australia - A review. Agricultural Water Management, 205, 72-80. Scopus67 WoS60 |
| 2016 | Sadras, V., Hayman, P., Rodriguez, D., Monjardino, M., Bielich, M., Unkovich, M., . . . Wang, E. (2016). Interactions between water and nitrogen in Australian cropping systems: physiological, agronomic, economic, breeding and modelling perspectives. Crop and Pasture Science, 67(10), 1019-1053. Scopus125 WoS118 |
| 2015 | Bruno, I., Reichardt, K., Bortolotto, R., Pinto, V., Bacchi, O., Dourado-Neto, D., & Unkovich, M. (2015). Nitrogen balance and fertigation use efficiency in a field coffee crop. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 38(13), 2055-2076. Scopus12 WoS9 |
| 2015 | Peoples, M., Chalk, P., Unkovich, M., & Boddey, R. (2015). Can differences in ¹⁵N natural abundance be used to quantify the transfer of nitrogen from legumes to neighbouring non-legume plant species?. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 87, 97-109. Scopus81 WoS74 |
| 2014 | Chalk, P., Peoples, M., McNeill, A., Boddey, R., Unkovich, M., Gardener, M., . . . Chen, D. (2014). Methodologies for estimating nitrogen transfer between legumes and companion species in agro-ecosystems: A review of ¹⁵N-enriched techniques. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 73, 10-21. Scopus95 WoS94 |
| 2013 | Unkovich, M. (2013). Isotope discrimination provides new insight into biological nitrogen fixation. New Phytologist, 198(3), 643-646. WoS92 Europe PMC41 |
| 2012 | Unkovich, M. (2012). Nitrogen fixation in Australian dairy systems: review and prospect. Crop and Pasture Science, 63(9), 787-804. WoS35 |
| 2012 | Herr, A., O'Connell, D., Dunlop, M., Unkovich, M., Poulton, P., & Poole, M. (2012). Second harvest-is there sufficient stubble for biofuel production in Australia?. Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, 4(6), 654-660. WoS9 |
| 2012 | Minchin, F., & Unkovich, M. (2012). John Featherstone Witty 1994 to 2009. PLANT AND SOIL, 356(1-2), 291-293. |
| 2011 | Unkovich, M. J., Baldock, J., & Peoples, M. B. (2011). Erratum to: Prospects and problems of simple linear models for estimating symbiotic N2 fixation by crop and pasture legumes(Plant Soil, (2010), 329, (75-89), 10.1007/s11104-009-0136-5). Plant and Soil, 346(1), 399. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2011 | Bruno, I., Unkovich, M., Bortolotto, R., Bacchi, O., Dourado-Neto, D., & Reichhardt, K. (2011). Fertilizer nitrogen in fertigated coffee crop: Absorption changes in plant compartments over time. Field Crops Research, 124(3), 369-377. Scopus40 WoS29 Europe PMC2 |
| 2011 | Paltridge, N., Grover, S., Gouyi, L., Tao, J., Unkovich, M., Tashi, N., & Coventry, D. (2011). Soils, crop nutrient status and nutrient dynamics on small-holder farms in central Tibet, China. Plant and Soil, 348(1-2), 219-229. Scopus9 WoS5 |
| 2011 | Yang, H., Unkovich, M., McNeill, A., & Wang, X. (2011). Symbiotic N-2 fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (Medicago sativa) systems. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 47(4), 377-385. Scopus30 WoS26 Europe PMC4 |
| 2010 | Unkovich, M., Baldock, J., & Peoples, M. (2010). Prospects and problems of simple linear models for estimating symbiotic N2 fixation by crop and pasture legumes. Plant and Soil, 329(1-2), 75-89. Scopus165 WoS157 |
| 2009 | Unkovich, M., Baldock, J., & Marvanek, S. (2009). Which crops should be included in a carbon accounting system for Australian agriculture?. Crop and Pasture Science, 60(7), 617-626. Scopus17 WoS15 |
| 2009 | Paltridge, N., Tao, J., Unkovich, M., Bonamano, A., Gason, A., Grover, S., . . . Coventry, D. (2009). Agriculture in central Tibet: an assessment of climate, farming systems, and strategies to boost production. Crop and Pasture Science, 60(7), 627-639. WoS25 |
| 2009 | Shen, Y., Li, L., Chen, W., Robertson, M., Unkovich, M., Bellotti, W., & Probert, M. (2009). Soil water, soil nitrogen and productivity of lucerne-wheat sequences on deep silt loams in a summer dominant rainfall environment. Field Crops Research, 111(1-2), 97-108. Scopus54 WoS52 Europe PMC10 |
| 2008 | Unkovich, M., & Baldock, J. (2008). Measurement of asymbiotic N₂ fixation in Australian agriculture. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 40(12), 2915-2921. Scopus63 WoS48 Europe PMC13 |
| 2008 | Huang, G., Zhang, R., Li, G., Li, L., Chan, K., Heenan, D., . . . Bellotti, W. (2008). Productivity and sustainability of a spring wheat-field pea rotation in a semi-arid environment under conventional and conservation tillage systems. Field Crops Research, 107(1), 43-55. Scopus113 WoS91 Europe PMC17 |
| 2008 | Unkovich, M., & Nan, Z. (2008). Problems and prospects of grassland agroecosystems in western China. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 124(1-2), 1-2. WoS20 Europe PMC2 |
| 2008 | Nolan, S., Unkovich, M., Yuying, S., Lingling, L., & Bellotti, W. (2008). Farming systems of the Loess Plateau, Gansu Province, China. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 124(1-2), 13-23. WoS63 Europe PMC11 |
| 2006 | Harris, R., Unkovich, M., & Humphris, J. (2006). Mineral nitrogen supply from pastures to cereals in three northern Victorian environments. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 46(1), 59-70. Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC1 |
| 2003 | Unkovich, M., Blott, K., Knight, A., Mock, I., Rab, A., & Portelli, M. (2003). Water use, competition, and crop production in low rainfall, alley farming systems of south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 54(8), 751-762. WoS24 |
| 2003 | Pearson, C. J., Zuo, H., Valentine, I., & Unkovich, M. (2003). Sustainability of Grazing Systems: Feed Base, Critical Grazing Pressure and Variability. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 1(2), 95-107. |
| 2001 | Evans, J., McNeill, A., Unkovich, M., Fettell, N., & Heenan, D. (2001). Net nitrogen balances for cool-season grain legume crops and contributions to wheat nitrogen uptake: a review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 41(3), 347-359. Scopus121 WoS104 |
| 2000 | Unkovich, M. J., & Pate, J. S. (2000). An appraisal of recent field measurements of symbiotic N2 fixation by annual legumes. Field Crops Research, 65(2-3), 211-228. Scopus313 WoS264 Europe PMC69 |
| 2000 | Unkovich, M. J., Pate, J. S., Lefroy, E. C., & Arthur, D. J. (2000). Nitrogen isotope fractionation in the fodder tree legume tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus) and assessment of N2 fixation inputs in deep sandy soils of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 27(10), 921-929. Scopus30 WoS32 |
| 2000 | Grigg, A. M., Pate, J. S., & Unkovich, M. J. (2000). Responses of native woody taxa in Banksia woodland to incursion of groundwater and nutrients from bordering agricultural land. Australian Journal of Botany, 48(6), 777-792. Scopus25 WoS25 Europe PMC6 |
| 1999 | Tang, C., Unkovich, M. J., & Bowden, J. W. (1999). Factors affecting soil acidification under legumes. III. Acid production by N2-fixing legumes as influenced by nitrate supply. New Phytologist, 143(3), 513-521. Scopus89 WoS81 Europe PMC26 |
| 1998 | Unkovich, M. J., & Pate, J. S. (1998). Symbiotic effectiveness and tolerance to early season nitrate in indigenous populations of subterranean clover Rhizobia from S.W. Australian pastures. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 30(10-11), 1435-1443. Scopus21 WoS21 Europe PMC3 |
| 1998 | Pate, J. S., Unkovich, M. J., Erskine, P. D., & Stewart, G. R. (1998). Australian mulga ecosystems - 13C and 15N natural abundances of biota components and their ecophysiological significance. Plant Cell and Environment, 21(12), 1231-1242. Scopus47 WoS43 |
| 1998 | Jamieson, N., Barraclough, D., Unkovich, M., & Monaghan, R. (1998). Soil N dynamics in a natural calcareous grassland under a changing climate. BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS, 27(3), 267-273. WoS44 |
| 1998 | Unkovich, M., Jamieson, N., Monaghan, R., & Barraclough, D. (1998). Nitrogen mineralisation and plant nitrogen acquisition in a nitrogen-limited calcareous grassland. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 40(3), 209-219. WoS16 |
| 1997 | Unkovich, M. J., Pate, J. S., & Sanford, P. (1997). Nitrogen fixation by annual legumes in Australian Mediterranean agriculture. Australian Journal of Agriculture Research, 48(3), 267-293. Scopus108 WoS103 |
| 1997 | Armstrong, E. L., Heenan, D. P., Pate, J. S., & Unkovich, M. J. (1997). Nitrogen benefits of lupins, field pea, and chickpea to wheat production in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Agriculture Research, 48(1), 39-47. Scopus57 WoS51 |
| 1996 | Unkovich, M. J., Sanford, P., & Pate, J. S. (1996). Nodulation and nitrogen fixation by subterranean clover in acid soils as influenced by lime application, toxic aluminium, soil mineral N, and competition from annual ryegrass. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 28(4-5), 639-648. Scopus23 WoS25 |
| 1996 | Erskine, P. D., Stewart, G. R., Schmidt, S., Turnbull, M. H., Unkovich, M., & Pate, J. S. (1996). Water availability - A physiological constraint on nitrate utilization in plants of Australian semi-arid mulga woodlands. PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 19(10), 1149-1159. WoS48 |
| 1995 | Sanford, P., Pate, J. S., Unkovich, M. J., & Thompson, A. N. (1995). Nitrogen fixation in grazed and ungrazed subterranean clover pasture in south-west Australia assessed by the 15N natural abundance technique. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 46(7), 1427-1443. Scopus37 WoS38 |
| 1995 | Unkovich, M. J., Pate, J. S., Armstrong, E. L., & Sanford, P. (1995). Nitrogen economy of annual crop and pasture legumes in southwest Australia. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 27(4-5), 585-588. Scopus18 WoS16 |
| 1995 | Bolger, T. P., Pate, J. S., Unkovich, M. J., & Turner, N. C. (1995). Estimates of seasonal nitrogen fixation of annual subterranean clover-based pastures using the15N natural abundance technique. Plant and Soil, 175(1), 57-66. Scopus53 WoS52 |
| 1994 | Unkovich, M. J., Pate, J. S., & Hamblin, J. (1994). The nitrogen economy of broadacre lupin in southwest Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 45(1), 149-164. Scopus48 WoS42 |
| 1994 | Armstrong, E. L., Pate, J. S., & Unkovich, M. J. (1994). Nitrogen balance of field pea crops in south western Australia, studied using the 15N natural abundance technique. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 21(4), 533-549. Scopus53 WoS56 |
| 1994 | Unkovich, M. J., Pate, J. S., Sanford, P., & Armstrong, E. L. (1994). Potential precision of the δ15N natural abundance method in field estimates of nitrogen fixation by crop and pasture legumes in south-west Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 45(1), 119-132. Scopus172 WoS396 |
| 1994 | Pate, J. S., Unkovich, M. J., Armstrong, E. L., & Sanford, P. (1994). Selection of reference plants for 15N natural abundance assessment of N2 fixation by crop and pasture legumes in south-west Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 45(1), 133-147. Scopus71 WoS67 |
| 1994 | Sanford, P., Pate, J. S., & Unkovich, M. J. (1994). A survey of proportional dependence of subterranean clover and other pasture legumes on N2 fixation in south-west Australia utilizing 15N natural abundance. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 45(1), 165-181. Scopus51 WoS48 |
| 1993 | UNKOVICH, M., PATE, J. S., & SANFORD, P. (1993). PREPARATION OF PLANT-SAMPLES FOR HIGH-PRECISION NITROGEN ISOTOPE RATIO ANALYSIS. COMMUNICATIONS IN SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT ANALYSIS, 24(15-16), 2093-2106. WoS31 |
| 1993 | STEWART, G. R., PATE, J. S., & UNKOVICH, M. (1993). CHARACTERISTICS OF INORGANIC NITROGEN ASSIMILATION OF PLANTS IN FIRE-PRONE MEDITERRANEAN-TYPE VEGETATION. PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 16(4), 351-363. WoS69 |
| 1993 | PATE, J. S., STEWART, G. R., & UNKOVICH, M. (1993). N-15 NATURAL ABUNDANCE OF PLANT AND SOIL COMPONENTS OF A BANKSIA WOODLAND ECOSYSTEM IN RELATION TO NITRATE UTILIZATION, LIFE FORM, MYCORRHIZAL STATUS AND N2-FIXING ABILITIES OF COMPONENT SPECIES. PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 16(4), 365-373. WoS106 |
| 1991 | HAMILTON, S. D., CHALK, P. M., UNKOVICH, M. J., HOPMANS, P., & SMITH, C. J. (1991). THE MEASUREMENT OF FERTILIZER-S UPTAKE BY PLANTS USING RADIOACTIVE AND STABLE ISOTOPES. APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES, 42(11), 1099-1101. WoS11 |
| 1980 | CHIVILO, E., STANIFORD, M., UNKOVICH, M., & WEBB, J. (1980). NEWSPAPER REPORTING OF THE 49TH-ANZAAS-CONGRESS. SEARCH, 11(7-8), 243-245. WoS1 |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | Biological nitrogen fixation by cover legumes under oil palm plantations in Papua New Guinea | Master of Agricultural Science | Master | Full Time | Ms Rachel Pipai |
| 2007 - 2011 | Co-Supervisor | Identifying the Cause of Cereal Yield Decline in Lucerne Companion Cropping Systems; and the Role of Agronomy for Mitigating Cereal Productivity Losses | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Robert Harris |