PhD Study : Greenhouse gas dynamics in upland agricultural systems

Apply and key information  

Summary

Upland agricultural systems for sheep and beef enterprises cover approximately 141,000ha, or 14%, of agricultural land in Northern Ireland. While soil primary productivity and food production (£/ha) is higher for more intensive lowland farming, the other four soil functions (nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, water regulation and biodiversity) are more prominent in upland systems. However, upland farming on peatlands has provided modern challenges based on historical land management. Even with large stores, carbon sequestration and water regulation in the uplands can be impacted, for example, by (historical) land drainage on peatlands (Grand-Clement et al., 2013). Furthermore, extreme events can induce feedbacks between wetting and drying cycles and alter the carbon balance (Dhillon and Inamdar, 2013).

Previous upland research indicates that restoration of drained areas can offset some carbon losses, although there is some ambiguity on the scale of effectiveness (Wilson et al., 2011; Turner et al., 2013). Carbon flux in the uplands should be placed into context with expected emissions factors used in land use accounting, and with other agricultural sectors in Northern Ireland. For example, IPCC Tier 2 emission factors used in Northern Ireland agriculture are not generally based on domestic studies, and can be bluntly applied to heterogenous land management units (Peter et al., 2016). At the scale of the hill farm, information is required to test expected gaseous emissions over different sub-environments (deep peat, shallow peat, wet grassland, etc.), and during different conditions such as drought periods.

Even with high-temporal resoluation gas monitoring (CO2/CH4), there are important knowledge gaps on the magnitude and seasonality of gas emissions spatially (e.g., different ecotopes and areas in different phases of degradation/restoration), and which can aid in validating more remotely sensed data (e.g., Lees et al., 2021). Such knowledge is important to upland agriculture as policy seeks to maximise soil functions as public goods, and which can be developed into results-based ecosystems’ services payment schemes.

This proposal will investigate gaseous emission knowledge gaps in the context of a 1,000ha hill farm research platform in Northern Ireland (in collaboration with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise), where greenhouse gas emissions are monitored continuously at a flux tower site.

The aim of the proposal is to assess upland gas dynamics to aid in the development of results-based ecosystems services schemes. The experimental objectives are to:

Assess the use of a mobile gas analyser for spatial investigations of CO2 and CH4 emissions in upland areas.

Compare spatial gas emissions over peatland and other ecotopes compared with static higher resolution measurements.

Compare gas emissions from peatlands under different stages of restoration.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
  • A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • First Class Honours (1st) Degree
  • Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
  • Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
  • Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
  • Work experience relevant to the proposed project
  • Publications record appropriate to career stage
  • Experience of presentation of research findings
  • Use of personal initiative as evidenced by record of work above that normally expected at career stage.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Recommended reading

Grand-Clement, E., Anderson, K., Smith, D., Luscombe, D., Gatis, N., Ross, M. and Brazier, R., 2013. Evaluating ecosystem goods and services after restoration of marginal upland peatlands in South-West England. Journal of Applied Ecology, 50(2), pp.324-334.

Lees, K.J., Khomik, M., Quaife, T., Clark, J.M., Hill, T., Klein, D., Ritson, J. and Artz, R.R.E., 2021. Assessing the reliability of peatland GPP measurements by remote sensing: From plot to landscape scale. Science of The Total Environment, 766, 142613.

Peter, C., Fiore, A., Hagemann, U., Nendel, C. and Xiloyannis, C., 2016. Improving the accounting of field emissions in the carbon footprint of agricultural products: a comparison of default IPCC methods with readily available medium-effort modeling approaches. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 21(6), pp.791-805.

Turner, E., Worrall, F. and Burt, T., 2013. The effect of drain blocking on the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) budget of an upland peat catchment in the UK. Journal of Hydrology, 479, pp.169-179.

Wilson, L., Wilson, J., Holden, J., Johnstone, I., Armstrong, A. and Morris, M., 2011. Ditch blocking, water chemistry and organic carbon flux: Evidence that blanket bog restoration reduces erosion and fluvial carbon loss. Science of The Total Environment, 409(11), pp.2010-2018.

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 6 February 2023
04:00PM

Interview Date
Week commencing 20 March 2023

Preferred student start date
18th September 2023

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Professor Phil Jordan

Other supervisors