Assessing Efficient Application and Emission Reduction from Using Low Carbon Footprint Fertilisers in Potato Agronomy at Cranfield University

Start date: 29/09/2025 

Studentship funding 

Sponsored by BBSRC CTP for Sustainable Agricultural Innovation and PepsiCo, this CTP studentship will provide an annual maintenance stipend of £19,237, fee support of £4,786, a research training support grant of £5,000 and conference and UK fieldwork expenses of £300. 

Type of opportunity

Fully-funded studentship 

Type of studentship: CTP 

Fee status of eligible applicants: UK

Duration: 4 years 

1^st Supervisor: Prof Ruben Sakrabani   

2^nd Supervisor: Prof Wilfred Otten 

Introductory Paragraph

This is an exciting 4-year PhD project funded by the BBSRC CTP Sustainable Agricultural Innovation and PepsiCo, this CTP studentship will provide an annual maintenance stipend of £19,237, fee support of £4,786, a research training support grant of £5,000 and conference and UK fieldwork expenses of £300. This project focuses on potatoes and how we can use sustainable fertiliser solutions such as organo-mineral fertilisers to meet crop demands and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. 

Main Copy (advised structure)

This project will focus on potatoes as it is a key crop in the UK. Potatoes are grown in ridges which causes a lot of destruction in soil structure. OMF may play a role in not only providing the nutrient requirements but also provide organic matter to better preserve soil structure. The aim of this project will be to assess efficacy of OMF as a low carbon footprint fertiliser for potato production in the UK.

This is a timely and fantastic project involving collaboration with PepsiCo on their potato field sites located at various sites in the UK. We will utilise a novel form of OMF based on carbon capture technology pioneered by CCm Technologies Limited. We will carry out field experiments to assess efficacy of OMF as fertilisers. This will be coupled with more controlled glass house studies to unravel mechanisms on how OMF mineralise in soil and provide nutrients to meet potato demand. There will also be complementary measurements on greenhouse gas emissions and diffuse pollution to ensure the OMF can be truly classified as a sustainable low carbon footprint fertiliser.

Placements are a key feature of CTP and UKRI-BBSRC expects all doctoral candidates on a CTP programme to undertake a placement. Placements can be in the form of research placements (3-18 months duration) or used more flexibly for experiential learning of professional skills for business and/or entrepreneurship. All placements are developed in collaboration between the partners with input from the doctoral candidate.

Entry requirements

The successful candidate should have (or expect to have) an Honours Degree (or equivalent) with a minimum of 2.1 in Geography, Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Science or other related science subjects. Students with an appropriate Masters degree are particularly encouraged to apply.

Funding

We welcome UK/Home, EU, and international applicants. Candidates whose first language is not English must provide evidence that their English language is sufficient to meet the specific demands of their study. Candidates should check the requirements for each host organization they are applying to, but IELTS 6.5 (with no component below 6.0) or equivalent is usually the minimum standard. 

How to apply

For further information please contact:      
Name: Prof Ruben Sakrabani
Email: r.sakrabani@cranfield.ac.uk