Characterisation of Enset functional traits, growth dynamics and optimal management practices to improve Enset productivity and resilience in Ethiopia

The orphan crop Enset (Ensete ventricosum), a relative of banana (Musa sp.), is the main staple in southern Ethiopia where it is cultivated for its corm and pseudostem. However, understanding of its growth dynamics and functional roles in Ethiopian agri-systems is still limited. Enset is likely to become increasingly important due to a rapidly growing population, but future development may be hindered by erosion of diversity, climate change and emerging pests and pathogens. To gain more knowledge regarding sustainable Enset development and interactions with environmental factors, a project involving experimental and field measurements, combined with remote sensing and modelling is proposed.
Main research questions
1.What is the interrelationship between Enset functional traits (e.g. seed, corm and aboveground traits), and how is this affected by environmental factors such as soil fertility, temperature, rainfall?
2. How does growth dynamic and biomass partitioning differ between wild and domesticated Enset? How does it compare to the more well-studied banana?
3. What are the optimal management practices to ensure high productivity?
4. What is the carbon sequestration potential of Enset? Could its cultivation also be promoted as a way to mitigate climate change?

For further information please contact the supervisor: Lucie Büchi, [Email Address Removed]

Bursary available (subject to satisfactory performance):
Year 1: £15,009 Year 2: In line with UKRI rate Year 3: In line with UKRI rate
Scholarships are available for three years, full-time study from the date scholars first register as an MPhil/PhD student with the university. The successful candidate will receive a waiver for tuition fees for the duration of their three-year scholarship. Students may be liable for tuition fees after this period. Applicants must meet the programme entry requirements.

For additional information about the scholarship please go to: https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/research-studentships-and-scholarships

Please read this information before making an application. Applications need to be made online via https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/apply/application-process. No other form of application will be considered.

All applications must include the following information. Applications not containing these documents will not be considered.
• In the first part of the application select the following: Agriculture, Health and Environment (MPhil/PhD)

• Scholarship Reference Number (Ref) – included in the personal statement section together with your personal statement as to why you are applying

• a CV including 2 referees *

• academic qualification certificates/transcripts and IELTs/English Language certificate if you are an international applicant or if English is not your first language or you are from a country where English is not the majority spoken language as defined by the UK Border Agency *

*upload to the qualification section of the application form. Attachments need to be in PDF format.


The closing date for applications is midnight (UTC) on 10 November 2019
The scholarship must commence before 6 January 2020