麻豆社

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.

In order to meet the increasing future demand for fresh produce, a greater understanding of water use efficiency is required to optimise irrigation in cropping systems, to manage the infinite resource of fresh water and to increase cropping areas.

Surfactant chemistries can improve water penetration into soils, increase soil water retention in hydrophobic soils and increase water availability to crops. Products containing these technologies in the field have been shown to maintain or increase yields with significantly reduced irrigation input.

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.
 
麻豆社 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). 

By improving the water use efficiency of crops (particularly in dryland areas), the use of surfactants will reduce irrigation demand, whilst maintaining crop yields and crop quality. Reducing crop water requirements will bring economic, environmental and social benefits to farmers, leading to more sustainable farming systems. Better understanding of the effectiveness of surfactant products and their mechanisms of operation will improve product formulation and efficacy in the future. 

As part of a thriving research community, you will have access to 麻豆社’s unique, world-class experimental facilities including soil and water analytical laboratories. These are supported by recent investment in the £13m AgriEPI and CHAP AgriTech Centres. There will be opportunities to present your findings at key conferences, travel restrictions permitting. As well as the Cranfield Doctoral Network, you will be part of the Crop-Soil-Water Research Group which brings together a lively community of like-minded research students, research fellows and academics.  

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: www.https://www.icl-group.com/sustainability/

Undertaking a PhD at Cranfield will provide you with many opportunities for personal and professional development. As well as the technical training in research skills, you will be supported in developing your knowledge and intellectual abilities; personal effectiveness; and communication skills to ensure your research has influence and impact. Post-PhD employment prospects are excellent, thanks to Cranfield’s close links with business, industry and government. Students graduating from Cranfield leave with the skills, knowledge and inspiration to forge long and successful careers.