PhD Studentship: The use of Surfactants to Improve Soil Water Retention and Water Availability to Crops

Research Project Title: The use of surfactants to improve soil water retention and water availability to crops

Application deadline: 14/08/2024

Start date: 30/09/2024    

Studentship funding 

Sponsored by ICL Group, this PhD studentship will provide a bursary of up to £20,000 (tax free) plus fees* in Year 1, rising to £22,000 in Year 3.

Type of opportunity

Fully-funded studentship 

Eligibility & Related Project Details 

Type of studentship: Fully funded Industrial studentship

Fee status of eligible applicants: UK and International 

Duration of Award: 3 years 

1^st Supervisor: R J Rickson    

2^nd Supervisor: W Otten 

Opportunity Reference No: SWEE0259

Future food security relies on efficient and sustainable use of finite land and water resources. Water use efficiency in crops is critical, especially in irrigated systems. Surfactants can improve water penetration into soils, increase soil water retention and increase water availability to crops. However, more work is required to understand the behavioural characteristics of surfactant applications in different soil types, assessing their performance to increase soil water use efficiency in different crops and growing systems. Using unique experimental facilities at Cranfield, this exciting, fully funded PhD opportunity is sponsored by ICL, a leading manufacturer of sustainable agriculture products. 

70% of the earth’s available fresh water is used for irrigation in agriculture and 40% of the world’s food is currently cultivated in farms using artificially irrigated cropping systems. It is estimated that many of these farms are using 2 to 3 times more water than their crop requires. 

More work is required to understand the behavioural characteristics of surfactant applications in different soil types, including their impact on soil water characteristics, behaviour and the most efficient use in different cropping and irrigation systems. This PhD will investigate surfactants’ mode of action, analysing different surfactants and blends on different soil types, then demonstrate a cause and effect link by gathering data on different crops and growing systems, assessing performance and potential to increase soil water use efficiency. 

Cranfield University is a global leader in transformational agricultural and environmental science, technology, engineering and management. Our internationally recognised academics undertake research, consultancy, and postgraduate education and training, using multidisciplinary approaches to tackle sustainability from the field to landscape scale. Our research on the sustainable use of natural resources worldwide is recognised by the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 (for water and sanitation) and again in 2017 (for applications of large-scale soil and environmental data).

This exciting, fully funded PhD opportunity is sponsored by ICL, a leading manufacturer of agriculture products committed to making an impact in the worlds of food, agriculture, and industrial products, and advancing humanity for a sustainable future: https://www.icl-group.com/sustainability/

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. This project would be particularly suited to graduates in soil science, environmental science, agriculture, biology, physical geography and chemistry.

Funding

The funder (ICL Group) have agreed to pay stipend and fees for either UK or International student 

How to apply  

For further information please contact: Professor R Jane Rickson
Name: Jane Rickson
Email: j.rickson@cranfield.ac.uk
Phone: 01234 754355 

Keywords: soil, water use, surfactants, soil and water management, crop water use, wetting agents, irrigation

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