Archived soil samples from 0-30 cm that had been collected between the 1993 and 2013 from seven different experiments run by the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Queensland and New South Wales were analysed for soil C, N and P. These soils were taken from plots with differing soil management and crop rotation histories. This scholarship was aimed at the investigation of soil stoichiometric relationships of soil C, N and P to test the hypothesis that there is a potential imbalance in soil C:N:P ratios under differing soil management and crop rotations that may inhibit carbon sequestration. The soil archives were collected from the Narrabri storage facility and ground on site in preparation for laboratory analysis at the ANU. The balance of the scholarship time was spent at Australian Cotton Research Institute in Narrabri, where the researcher was exposed to the following laboratory methods that were carried out following an on-site irrigation sequence for the plots C1 and D1:

 Total suspended solids,

 Saturated soil pastes

 Centrifuging soil pastes

 Determination of chloride in water by Sherwood Chloride Analyser model 926 (coulometric method)

 EC and pH measures

 Determination of Na, K, Ca, and Mg in water by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Attendance at several cotton related seminars and spent time in the field learning about and assisting with related projects taking place at the research station.

Effects on the stoichiometric ratios of cotton cropping soils have been varied throughout the treatments over the plots. At tthat time of analysis, the most obvious relationship that was found was between the dryland and irrigated plot soil Carbon storage due to Nitrogen addition. The addition of Nitrogen to dryland soils has been shown to have much less of an effect on soil Carbon storage levels than under an irrigated system. This project aligns with strategic aims in Best Practice through sustainable soil management and providing solutions for an increase in crop productivity yield per hectare through improving resource efficiency and also building workforce capacity by providing training and support for students undertaking tertiary study.