Current Research Interests

• Use of solid waste materials as adsorbing/immobilizing agents for heavy metal contaminants in waters and soils
• Rehabilitation and revegetation of fly ash disposal sites and other tailings dams
• Science and technology of the manufacture of artificial soils
• Land disposal of industrial and municipal wastes and waste water streams

Research Expertise

• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental microbiology
• Soil chemistry/ecology/microbiology
• Soil degradation/soil quality evaluation

Recent Professional Experience

• Professor of Soil and Environmental Science, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia (2006 – present)
• Professor of Soil Science, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (1996- 2006)
• National Programme Manager (Soil Science), New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, Lincoln, NZ (1992-1996)
• Research Scientist, Research Division, New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Lincoln, NZ  (1981-1992)

Academic Qualifications

• DSc, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
• PhD (Soil Science), Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand
• BHort Sci (Hons1), Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand

Professional Society Memberships

• Australian Soil Science Society
• New Zealand Soil Science Society

Publications Summary

1. Mokolobate, M.S. and Haynes, R.J. 2002.  Increases in pH and soluble salts influence the effect that additions of organic residues have on concentrations of exchangeable and soil solution Al.  Eur. J. Soil Sci. 53,481- 489.
2. Atagana, H.I., Haynes, R.J. and Wallis, F.M. 2002.  Batch culture enrichment of indigenous soil microorganisms capable of catabolizing creosote components. Water, Air Soil Poll. 141, 233-246.
3. Atagana, H. I., Haynes, R.J. and Wallis, F.M. 2003. The use of surfactants as possible enhancers in bioremediation of creosote contaminated soil. Water, Air Soil Poll. 142, 137-149.
4. Dominy, C.S., Haynes, R.J. and van Antwerpen, R.  2002.  Loss of soil organic matter and related soil properties under long-term sugarcane production on two contrasting soils.  Biol. Fert. Soils 36, 350- 356.
5. Atagana, H. I.  2003. Co-composting of soil heavily contaminated with creosote with cattle manure and vegetable waste for the bioremediation of creosote contaminated soil. Soil & Sediment Contamination 12, 885-899.
6. Haynes, R.J., Dominy, C.S. and Graham, M.H.  2003.  Effect of agricultural land-use on organic matter status and the size and composition of earthworm communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.  Agric.  Ecosyst. Environ.95, 453- 464.
7. Rietz, D.N. and Haynes, R.J.  2003.  Effects of irrigation-induced salinity and sodicity on soil microbial activity.  Soil Biol. Biochem 35, 845-854.
8. Dee, B.M., Haynes, R.J., and Graham, M.H.  2003.  Changes in soil acidity and the size and activity of the microbial biomass in response to the addition of sugar mill wastes.  Biol. Fertil. Soils 37, 47- 54.
9. Fynn, R.W.S., Haynes, R.J., and O’Connor, T.G.O.  2003.  Changes in organic matter status induced by burning on a long-term grassland experiment in South Africa.  Soil Biol. Biochem. 35,677-687.
10. Haynes, R.J. Fraser, P.M., Piercy, J.E. and Tregurtha, R.J. 2003. Casts of Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) and Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister) differ in microbial activity, nutrient availability and aggregate stability. Pedobiologia 47, 882-887.
11. Dlamini,T.C. and Haynes R. J. 2004. Influence of land use on the size and composition of earthworm communities in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Appl. Soil Ecol. 27, 77-88.
12. Nsabimana, D., Haynes, R. J. and Wallis, F.M. 2004.Size, activity and diversity of the soil microbial biomass as affected by land use. Appl. Soil Ecol. 26,81-92.
13. Graham,M.H. and Haynes,R.J. 2004. Organic matter status and size, activity and metabolic diversity of the soil microbial biomass as indicators of the success of rehabilitation of mined sand dunes. Biol. Fertil. Soils 39, 429-437.
14. Belyaeva,O.N., Haynes,R.J. and Birukova,O.A. 2005 Barley yield, soil microbial and enzyme activity as affected by contamination of two Russian soils with Pb, Zn and Cu. Biol. Fertil. Soils 41, 85-94.
15. Graham, M.H. and Haynes, R.J. (2005). Organic matter accumulation and fertilizer-induced acidification interact to affect soil microbial and enzyme activity on a long-term sugarcane management experiment. Biol. Fertil. Soils 41, 249-259
16. Haynes, R.J. 2005. Labile organic matter fractions as central components of the quality of agricultural soils: an overview. Adv. Agron. 85,221-268.
17. Graham, M.H. and Haynes, R.J. (2006). Organic matter status and the size, activity and metabolic diversity of the soil microbial community in the row and inter-row of sugarcane. Soil Biol. Biochem. 38, 21-31
18. Graham, M.H. and Haynes, R.J. (2005). Catabolic diversity of soil microbial communities under sugarcane and other land uses estimated by Biolog and substrate-induced respiration methods. Appl. Soil Ecol. 29, 155-164
19. Atagana, H. I., Haynes, R. J. and Wallis, F. M. (2006). Fungal bioremediation of creosote-contaminated soil: a laboratory scale bioremediation study using indigenous soil fungi. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 172, 201-219.
20. Naramabuye, F.X. and Haynes, R.J.(2006). Short-term effects of three animal manures on soil pH and Al solubility. Aust. J. Soil Res. 44, 515-521
21. Matlou,M.C. and Haynes,R.J. (2006). Soluble organic matter and microbial biomass C and N in soils under pasture and arable management and the leaching of organic C,N and nitrate in a lysimeter study.  Appl. Soil Ecol. 34, 160-167