Investigation of the potential for precision soil and crop growth mapping to improve tuber size distribution at harvest (PhD Studentship 3 years)

As our global population is not only increasing but set to continue to rise substantially then reducing areas of waste and increasing efficiency in potato production is ever more important. One area of concern relating to both waste and efficiency is tuber size variation at harvest, whereby under or over size crop is produced. Although our understanding of crop growth is very good the knowledge of managing production within fields of variable soil properties is poor. This research will therefore investigate crop responses to soil variability from planting right through to harvest using ‘Apparent electrical conductivity’ (ECa) soil mapping, aerial imagery and soil analysis to identify key growth and crop yield relationships. The core aim of the work is therefore to identify factors within the soil which lead to the variable crop growth and which can then be manipulated to reduce the waste and produce a more uniform crop at harvest.

This project will provide a sound scientific training in the science of potato agronomy, soil analysis, elements of precision farming, field scale and protected environment experiment design, statistical analysis and research methods.