Biography
Prof. Chapman has nearly 30 years research experience in pasture ecology and ecophysiology, grazing management, pasture-animal interactions, and development of grazing systems. His career began in New Zealand with the Grasslands Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Resarch, Palmerston North, which later became part of AgResearch. Prof. Chapman's research in New Zealand was principally directed toward understanding the impacts of grazing management on pasture plant population dynamics, pasture composition, and pasture utilisation in hill country. He completed his PhD at the Grasslands Research Institutue (later to become part of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research) at Hurley in England in 1989, after conducting research into the dynamics of carbon uptake and utilisation in white clover (Trifolium repens L.).
Returning to New Zealand, Prof. Chapman worked with colleagues at AgResearch investigating the heritability of persistence-related traits in white clover, and determining the impacts of adapted white clover germplasm on hill country pasture composition, nitrogen fixation and animal production. After a period leading the Forage Ecology and Management group within AgResearch, Prof. Chapman moved to the University of Melbourne in 1996 to take up his present position as Foundation Professor of Pasture Science. His major research activities since then have revolved around the development of simulation models of the soil-plant-animal system and their application to problems of improving pasture consumption and adaptation; the effects of grazing method on the productivity and sustainability of perennial pastures in the medium-high rainfall zone of south-east Australia (as part of the Sustainable Grazing Systems program 1997 - 2003); the role of perennial grasses, legumes and herbs for improved growth and feeding value of non-irrigated dairy pastures; development of more productive forage base systems for non-irrigated dairying including integration of forage crops and pastures; and the nutritional basis of diet selection in ruminants. Much of this research is funded by the dairy industry through Dairy Australia and associated Regional Development Programs of Dairy Australia, and is directed toward improved profitability and resilience of dairy businesses.
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest | Country of Expertise |
|---|---|
| Pasture ecology and ecophysiology; grazing management; pasture-animal interactions; development of grazing systems | Australia, New Zealand |
International Linkages
| Country | Establishment | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | AgResearch | Exchange, Research |
| United States | Oregon State University | Exchange, Research, Teaching |
| Argentina | University of Buenos Aires | Teaching |
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards
Qualifications
| Title | Institution | Date Awarded | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Agricultural Science | Lincoln University | ||
| Doctor of Philosophy | The University of Reading |
Memberships
| Membership Type | Membership Body | Description | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unspecified | Crop Science Society of America | Member | 01-Jan-2008 | 31-Dec-2008 |
| Unspecified | Grassland Society of Southern Australia | Member | 01-Jan-2008 | 31-Dec-2008 |
| Unspecified | New Zealand Grassland Association | Member | 01-Jan-2008 | 31-Dec-2008 |
| Unspecified | British Grassland Society | Member | 01-Jan-2008 | 31-Dec-2008 |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
- Genetics not elsewhere classified (GENETICS) (270299)
- Life Histories (incl. Population Ecology) (ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION) (270706)
- Soil Chemistry (SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES) (300103)
- Applied Hydrology (Drainage, Flooding, Irrigation, etc.) (SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES) (300105)
- Soil and Water Sciences not elsewhere classified (SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES) (300199)
- Plant Biochemistry and Physiology (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300201)
- Plant Nutrition (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300202)
- Plant Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds) (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300204)
- Agronomy (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300205)
- Crop and Pasture Production not elsewhere classified (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300299)
- Animal Nutrition (ANIMAL PRODUCTION) (300403)
- Animal Production not elsewhere classified (ANIMAL PRODUCTION) (300499)
- Natural Resource Management (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES) (300803)
- Farm Management, Rural Management and Agribusiness (LAND, PARKS AND AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT) (300901)
- Fertilisers and Agrochemicals (Application etc.) (OTHER AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES) (309901)
- Education and Extension (OTHER AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES) (309902)
- Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified (OTHER AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES) (309999)
- Social Theory (SOCIOLOGY) (370101)
- Sociological Methodology and Research Methods (SOCIOLOGY) (370106)
- Social Change (SOCIOLOGY) (370107)
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
- Field crops (SUSTAINABLE PLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS) (620501)
- Sheep - meat (LIVESTOCK) (630101)
- Sheep - wool (LIVESTOCK) (630102)
- Beef cattle (LIVESTOCK) (630103)
- Dairy cattle (LIVESTOCK) (630104)
- Livestock not elsewhere classified (LIVESTOCK) (630199)
- Sown legumes (PASTURE, BROWSE AND FODDER CROPS) (630201)
- Sown grasses (PASTURE, BROWSE AND FODDER CROPS) (630202)
- Browse crops (PASTURE, BROWSE AND FODDER CROPS) (630203)
- Fodder crops (PASTURE, BROWSE AND FODDER CROPS) (630204)
- Other (PASTURE, BROWSE AND FODDER CROPS) (630299)
- Livestock (SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS) (630501)
- Pasture, browse and fodder crops (SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS) (630502)
- Primary products from animals (SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS) (630504)
- Chemical fertilisers (AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS) (670601)
- Management (MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES) (720403)
- Vocational education and training (VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING) (740401)
- Changing work patterns (WORK) (750102)
- Other social development and community services (OTHER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES) (759999)
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Scheme | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasture technology for dairy production systems in southern Australia | Chief Investigator | AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL | Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research & Training Scheme | 01/01/2001 |
| Modelling in support of field experimentation: developing an integrated approach in farmlet projects using 'DairyMod' | Chief Investigator | AUST DAIRY CORP | Out of session Project Grant (DAIRY AUSTRALIA) | 01/07/2001 |
| University of Melbourne co-operative program - research fellow at Glenormiston (Phase II) | Chief Investigator | AUST DAIRY CORP | Project Grants (DAIRY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION) | 01/07/2003 |
| Precision dairy farming applications: potential benefits and adoption issues in Australasia | Principal Supervisor | AUST DAIRY CORP | Postgraduate Awards (DAIRY AUSTRALIA) | 23/02/2004 |
| PROJECT 30/30: PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASING FORAGE CONSUMPTION ON DRYLAND DAIRY FARMS IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA | Chief Investigator | DAIRY AUSTRALIA | Out of session Project Grant | 31/12/2004 |
| ADAPTATION OF TECHNOLOGIES TO ACHIEVE HIGH PRODUCTIVITY FROM DAIRY FARMING SYSTEMS | Chief Investigator | GARDINER FOUNDATION | Major R&D Project Grants | 11/08/2006 |
| PROJECT 30:30 PHASE 2: RESILIENT DRYLAND FORAGE SYSTEMS FOR INCREASING PROFIT AND MANAGING VARIABILITY | Chief Investigator | DAIRY AUSTRALIA | Project Grants | 01/07/2008 |
| Professional support for the SGS pasture and animal theme teams during the harvest year | Chief Investigator | MEAT & LIVESTOCK AUST LTD | Research Grant | |
| BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR NITROGEN IN INTENSIVE DAIRY PR | Chief Investigator | DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT | Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research & Training Scheme (AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL) |
Contracts
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forage supply systems for the southwest Victoria dairy industry | Chief Investigator | DAIRY AUSTRALIA | 01/08/2003 |
| Satellite remote sensing for the Australian Dairy Industry | Chief Investigator | CSIRO LIVESTOCK INDUSTRIES | 02/01/2007 |
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.