Regenerative grazing management: its potential to improve soil health and biodiversity

The project:

The ambitious UK greenhouse gas emissions net‐zero target for 2050 added to the known large effect that livestock has on greenhouse gas emissions have led to the search for more sustainable production systems. Regenerative grazing management uses sustainable management practices that aim to implement soil conservation strategies to regenerate the ecosystem and, at the same time, provide ecosystems services. Thus, regenerative grazing management has gained increased attention not only in the UK livestock sector but from the broad audience. However, while some research has shown the potential of regenerative grazing management to improve soil health and to abate greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration under continental or tropical climate conditions, information is lacking for temperate British conditions. The data on the impact of regenerative grazing management effects on farm biodiversity are inconsistent and depend on the species and taxa being investigated. Despite recent efforts to assess the relationship between regenerative grazing management soils’ and greenhouse gas emissions in the US, it is not clear how regenerative grazing management may affect soil greenhouse gas emissions under temperate micro‐climates and soil types. The positive effects of regenerative grazing management on soil structure has been reported though, but there is scarce evidence of RGM effect on soil compaction, which has been reported to increase GHGe in soils.

The aim of the project is to assess the effects of regenerative grazing management under different micro‐climates and soil types on: 1) soil health characteristics (soil C content, soil structure, compaction and greenhouse gas emissions), 2) system biodiversity and, 3) to model the effect that soil compaction from regenerative grazing management on soil greenhouse gas emissions.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team where experts from Rothamsted Research and the University of Bristol currently aim to tackle this important research topic. Moreover, the awarded candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to disentangling the potential that regenerative grazing management may have in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock sector and reduce the effect on climate change.

The PhD project will involve the following tasks:

Task 1‐Assessment of the effect of regenerative grazing management on soil characteristics, on field soil GHGe, soil compaction and biodiversity

Task 2‐In vitro assessment of the effect of regenerative grazing management on soil GHGe in different soil types

Task 3‐A soil compaction‐focused agro‐ecosystem model as a tool to predict regenerative grazing management impacts on greenhouse gas emissions

This studentship will start in September 2023.

Contacts: [Email Address Removed]

Supervisory team:

Rothamsted supervisor: Dr Laura Cardenas (Rothamsted Research)

Academic supervisor: Dr Daniel Enriquez‐Hidalgo (University of Bristol)

Non‐academic CASE Supervisor: Tom White (Yeo Valley)

Dr Andy Gregory (Rothamsted Research), Prof Jane Memmott (University of Bristol)

Collaborators: Nikky Yoxal (Pasture For Life Association)

Host institution: Rothamsted Research (North Wyke), Apply through University of Bristol

CASE Partner: Yeo Valley

How to apply:

This studentship is part of the BBSRC SWBio Doctoral Training Partnership (https://www.swbio.ac.uk/). Please apply from https://www.swbio.ac.uk/programme/projects-available/.

Candidate requirements:

Please see https://www.swbio.ac.uk/programme/eligibility/ for conditions specific to this funding.

Due to complexities and restrictions associated with visas for part-time studies, we are currently unable to accept part-time international students to the programme Project adjustments, part-time study and flexible working – SWBiosciences Doctoral Training Partnership

Standard University of Bristol eligibility rules for PhD admissions also apply. Please visit http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/2023/health-sciences/phd-veterinary-sciences/ for more information.

Our aim as the SWBio DTP is to support students from a range of backgrounds and circumstances. Where needed, we will work with you to take into consideration reasonable project adaptations (for example to support caring responsibilities, disabilities, other significant personal circumstances) as well as flexible working and part-time study requests, to enable greater access to a PhD. All our supervisors support us with this aim, so please feel comfortable in discussing further with the listed PhD project supervisor to see what is feasible.