PhD Studentship: Developing an Integrated Tool To Assess Soil Health in Agricultural Settings

DoS: Dr Jennifer Rowntree (Email: jennifer.rowntree@plymouth.ac.uk)

2^nd Supervisor: Dr Claire Kelly (Email: claire.kelly@plymouth.ac.uk)

3^rd Supervisor: Dr Mark Whiteside (Email: mark.whiteside@plymouth.ac.uk)

Applications are invited for a 3.5 years PhD studentship within the Environmental Intelligence doctoral training programme at the University of Plymouth. The studentship will start on 01 October 2024.

Project Description

Scientific background:

The health of our soil is integral to the ongoing health of our plant. When managed appropriately, soil can remove and retain large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Soils are also essential for future food security as well as underpinning well-functioning natural terrestrial ecosystems. Some agricultural practices, particularly those where soil is heavily managed through ploughing, grazing, nutrient input and compaction, can act in opposition to longer term carbon storage and productivity goals. In response, there is a strong focus on understanding and maintaining healthy soils in the UK agricultural sector.

The concept of a healthy soil is complex and to be able to monitor improvements in soil health, we need to integrate knowledge from a diversity of sources. While we can sample soil and measure a suite of physical, chemical, and biological parameters, the people who manage soil are an untapped resource of high-resolution, often multi-generational, information.

The aim of this project is to work across social, physical and biological sciences to address three objectives:

1. Explore inherent soil quality knowledge held by farming communities.
2. Integrate farmer knowledge with in-field assessments and physico-chemical soil parameters.
3. Understand how these factors affect soil invertebrate and microbial communities.

Research methodology:

Qualitative social science methodology (walking, kitchen table interviews) will be used to tease out multi-generational local land manager and farmer knowledge. In field farmer-led soil assessments (Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure, earthworm counts) will be combined with laboratory assessments of standard soil parameters (pH, P, K, Mg, SOM). Ecological surveying and molecular techniques will be used to assess indicators of biological soil health. Integrative tools will be co-designed with local farming communities, bringing these three strands of information together, to enhance environmental intelligence and facilitate decision making.

Training:

The successful candidate will benefit from transdisciplinary training in qualitative social and quantitative environmental and biological sciences. The candidate will develop key skills in cross-disciplinary data analysis, bioinformatics as well as chemical and molecular laboratory skills that will prepare them for a future position in a technology and data-led market. They will be supported in the development of communication and writing skills, essential for the establishment and maintenance of stakeholder partnerships and creation of knowledge exchange. On completion they will be well-placed to address global issues of environmental sustainability and make a positive contribution to future development.

Person specification:

We are looking for a person with a degree in environmental or biological sciences and a keen interest in transdisciplinary working. Experience of, or interest in, the agricultural sector would be beneficial, as would familiarity with handling complex data sets. An enthusiasm and ability to communicate with a wide range of people is essential.

For further information on Eligibility & Funding, please click on the links below: 

• Eligibility
• Funding

To apply, please click the 'Apply' button, above.

The closing date for applications on 26 April 2024.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview after the deadline.

Advert information