Professor Margaret Burchett

Burchett, M., Mousine, R. & Tarran, J. 2002, 'Phytomonitoring for urban environmental management' in Omasa K;Saji H; Youssefian S; Kondo n (eds), Air Pollution and Plant Biotechnology: Propects for Phytomonitoring and Phytoremediation, Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, pp. 61-91.

Sommerville, K.D., Pulkownik, A. & Burchett, M. 2012, 'Reproductive Biology Of A Threatened Australian Saltmarsh Plant - Wilsonia Backhousei', Aquatic Botany, vol. 99, pp. 1-10.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>

The reproductive biology of a threatened saltmarsh plant, Wilsonia backhousei Hook.f., was investigated with a view to improving conservation and restoration outcomes for the species. Population phenology was studied every two weeks, over two consecutive

Yunusa, I.A., Loganathan, P., Nissanka, S.P., Manoharan, V., Burchett, M., Skilbeck, C.G. & Eamus, D. 2012, 'Application of coal fly ash in agriculture: A strategic perspective', Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 42, no. 6, pp. 559-600.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>

Fly ash is a major waste of coal-power generation and its management is a major environmental and economic challenge, and it will become even more critical with a projected increase in the reliance on coal for power generation. The authors discuss how th

Veeragathipillai, M., Yunusa, I.A., Loganathan, P., Lawrie, R., Skilbeck, C.G., Burchett, M., Murray, B.R. & Eamus, D. 2010, 'Assessments of Class F fly ashes for amelioration of soil acidity and their influence on growth and uptake of Mo and Se by canola', Fuel, vol. 89, no. 11, pp. 3498-3504.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site
View description>>

Coal fly ash can be used to ameliorate productivity constraints in agricultural soils, but their efficacy still remains highly variable. To ascertain the capacity of Class F fly ashes to modify pH of acidic soils, and their effects on the yield and uptake of molybdenum (Mo) and selenium (Se) by canola (Brassica napus L.), we applied two acidic and two alkaline Class F ashes at rates equivalent to 0, 12, 36, and 108 Mg/ ha to the top layer (0Ô++10 cm) of 100 cm long intact cores of acidic sandy clay and clay loam soils. Only the alkaline ash which had the highest calcium carbonate equivalent (2.43%) increased the pH of the top 10 cm of the sandy clay soil. However, this ash was also highly saline and when applied at P36 Mg/ha it increased the electrical conductivity in the top soil layer. Increases in soil pH as a result of alkaline ash addition also elevated concentrations of Se in the plant shoot. The ashes with high concentrations of Mo and Se generally increased uptake of these elements in the plant shoot and/or seed. When these ashes were applied at 108 Mg/ha they increased the concentrations of these elements in the treated topsoil.

Yunusa, I.A., Burchett, M., Veeragathipillai, M., DeSilva, L., Eamus, D. & Skilbeck, C.G. 2009, 'Photosynthetic Pigment Concentrations, Gas Exchange and Vegetative Growth for Selected Monocots and Dicots Treated with Two Contrasting Coal Fly Ashes', Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 1466-1472.
View/Download from: UTSePress
View description>>

There is uncertainty as to the races of coal fly ash needed for optimum physiological processes and growth. In the current study we tested the hyothesis that photosynthetic pigments concentrations and CO2 assimilation (A) are more sensitive than dry weights in plants grown on media amended with coal fly ash. We applied the Terrestrial Plant Growth Test (Guideline 208) protocols of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to monocots [barley (Hordeum vulgare) and ryegrass (Secale cereale)] and dicots [canola (Brasica napus), radish (Raphanus sativus), field peas (Pisum sativum), and lucerne (Medicago sativa)] on media amended with fly ashes derived from semi-bituminous (gray ash) or lignite (red ash) coals at rates of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, or 20 Mg ha(-1). The red ash had higher elemental concentrations and salinity than the gray ash. Fly ash addition had no significant effect on germination by any of the six species. At moderate rates (<= 10 Mg ha(-1)) both ashes increased (P < 0.05) growth rates and concentrations of chlorophylls a and b, but reduced carotenoid concentrations. Addition of either ash increased A in radish and transpiration in barley Growth rates and final dry weights were reduced for all of the six test species when addition rates exceeded 10 Mg ha(-1) for gray ash and 5 Mg ha(-1) for red ash. We concluded that plant dry weights, rather than pigment concentrations and/or instantaneous rates of photosynthesis, are more consistent for assessing subsequent growth in plants Supplied with fly ash. Copyright (C) 2009 by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Muir, M.A., Yunusa, I.A., Burchett, M., Lawrie, R., Chan, K.Y. & Veeragathipillai, M. 2007, 'Short-term responses of two contrasting species of earthworms in an agricultural soil amended with coal fly-ash', Soil Biology & Biochemistry, vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 987-992.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site
View description>>

With the renewewd interest in the use of coal fly-ash for amendment of agricultural soils in Australia, we assessed how earthworms, as indicators of soil health, responded to this ameliorant. We assessed survival, weight, burrowing and elemntal concentrations for earthworms of a native unnamed Megascolecid species and exotic Aporrectodea trapezoides inintect soil cores treated with an alkaline fly-ash at rates aquivalent to 0, 5 and 25t/ha over 6 weeks. Fly ash did not affect survival, growth number of burrows created or phosphorous solubilisation. Transfer of the earthworms to the new environment having vastly different pH from where they were collected, and possibly overcrowding, caused mortality in the soil cores for all treatments. A.trapezoides that had smaller individuals suffered mortality by 0.24 (25% of their original weight) while those of A. trapezoides lot 0.18g each (21% of their original weight).The difference in growth between the two earhtworms was associated with grazing habit andprobably with the large differences in the pH which was more abundant in the fly-ash than the soil, compared with A. trapezoides that had elevated concentration of this metal.Extractable P in the soil was increased with noth species of earhtworms, more so with the exotic species that solubilised 11% more P than the native Megascolecids. The benign influence of fly-ash on survival and growth of worms was associated with the pH of soil remaining unchanged during the six weeks of incubation.

Ahmed, A., Johnson, K.A., Burchett, M. & Kenny, B.J. 2006, 'The effects of heat, smoke, leaching, scarification, temperature and NaCl salinity on the germination of Solanum centrale (the Australian bush tomato)', Seed Science And Technology, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 33-45.
View/Download from: UTSePress
View description>>

Poor germination is considered a barrier to the horticultural development of a commercially significant Australian native edible species, Solanum centrale JM Black (bush tomato). Seed viability and the effects of heat, smoke. soaking, leaching, temperatu

Orwell, R.L., Wood, R., Burchett, M., Tarran, J. & Torpy, F.R. 2006, 'The potted plant microcosm substantially reduces indoor air VOC pollution II', Water Air and Soil Pollution, vol. 177, pp. 59-80.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site
View description>>

Indoor air-borne loads of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are usually significantly higher than those outdoors, and chronic exposures can cause health problems. Our previous laboratory studies have shown that the potted-plant microcosm, induced by an initial dose, can eliminate high air-borne VOC concentrations, the primary removal agents being potting-mix microorganisms, selected and maintained in the plant/root-zone microcosm. Our office field-study, reported in the preceding paper, showed that, when total VOC (TVOC) loads in reference offices (0 plants) rose above about 100 ppb, levels were generally reduced by up to 75% (to < 100 ppb) in offices with any one of three planting regimes. The results indicate the induction of the VOC removal mechanism at TVOC levels above a threshold of about 100 ppb. The aims of this laboratory dose-response study were to explore and analyse this response. Over from 5 to 9 days, doses of 0.2, 1.0, 10 and 100 ppm toluene and m-xylene were applied and replenished, singly and as mixtures, to potted-plants of the same two species used in the office study. The results confirmed the induction of the VOC removal response at the lowest test dosage, i.e in the middle of the TVOC range found in the offices, and showed that, with subsequent dosage increments, further stepwise induction occurred, with rate increases of several orders of magnitude. At each dosage, with induction, VOC concentrations could be reduced to below GC detection limits (< 20 ppb) within 24 h. A synergistic interaction was found with the binary mixtures, toluene accelerating m-xylene removal, at least at lower dosages. The results of these two studies together demonstrate that the potted-plant microcosm can provide an effective, self-regulating, sustainable bioremediation or phytoremediation system for VOC pollution in indoor air.

Wood, R., Burchett, M., Alquezar, R., Orwell, R.L., Tarran, J. & Torpy, F.R. 2006, 'The potted-plant microcosm substantially reduces indoor air VOC pollution I. Office field-study', Water Air And Soil Pollution, vol. 175, no. 1-4, pp. 163-180.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site
View description>>

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major contaminants of indoor air, with concentrations often several times higher than outdoors. They are recognized as causative agents of building-related illness or sick-building syndrome. Our previous laboratory t

Yunusa, I.A., Eamus, D., De Silva, D.L., Murray, B.R., Burchett, M., Skilbeck, C.G. & Heidrich, C. 2006, 'Fly-ash: An exploitable resource for management of Australian agricultural soils', Fuel, vol. 85, no. 16, pp. 2337-2344.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site
View description>>

Agricultural soils in Australia have inherent limitations of structural and nutritional nature that pose major constraints to crop productivity. These soils are still productive due to intensive management that involves routine treatments with lime and g

Melville, F.R., Pulkownik, A. & Burchett, M. 2005, 'Zonal and seasonal variation in the distribution and abundance of mangrove macroalgae in the Parramatta River, Australia', Estuarine Coastal And Shelf Science, vol. 64, no. 2-3, pp. 267-276.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site
View description>>

The purpose of this study was to examine the spatial and temporal variation of macroalgae epiphytic on pneumatophores of the Grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., in the Parramatta River, the major estuarine system flowing into Sydney Harbour.

Melville, F.R., Burchett, M. & Pulkownik, A. 2004, 'Genetic variation among age-classes of the mangrove Avicennia marina in clean and contaminated sediments', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 49, pp. 695-703.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site

Orwell, R.L., Wood, R., Tarran, J., Torpy, F.R. & Burchett, M. 2004, 'Removal of benzene by the indoor plant/substrate microcosm and implications for air quality', Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, vol. 157, pp. 193-207.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site

Macfarlane, G.R., Pulkownik, A. & Burchett, M. 2003, 'Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.)Vierh.: biological indication potential', Environmental Pollution, vol. 123, no. 1, pp. 139-151.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site

Melville, F.R. & Burchett, M. 2002, 'Genetic variation in Avicennia marina in three estuaries', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 44, no. N/A, pp. 469-479.
View/Download from: UTSePress | Publisher's site

Wood, R., Orwell, R.L., Tarran, J., Torpy, F.R. & Burchett, M. 2002, 'Potted plant/growth media interactions and capacities for removal of volatile from indoor air', Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 120-129.
View/Download from: UTSePress

Macfarlane, G.R., Burchett, M. 2000, 'Cellular Distirbution of Copper, Lead and Zinc in the Grey Mangrove Avicennia marina', Aquatic Botany, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 45-59.