Impact assessment of crop protection products on the soil microbiome and ecosystem services

Deadline for applications:  18/12/2023

About the Project

Microbial communities drive vital biogeochemical cycling in soils, which provide an estimated $1000bn of ecosystem services to agricultural soils per year [1]. Soil ecosystem services include a range of processes such as nitrogen fixation, enhancing plant pathogen resistance, contaminant degradation, and the global response to climate change [2]. Currently, we have a limited understanding of the full diversity of the soil microbiome and the way species or communities interact to contribute to these beneficial ecosystem services [3]. This makes it challenging to optimize and harness the soil microbiome and be able to exploit the power of their function and activity to quantify potential impacts from crop protection products (CPP; e.g. fungicides, herbicides, pesticides). For registration of a CPP, their persistence in soils must be determined to ensure that they will not pose a risk to human health or the environment. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline 307 dictates that persistence tests must be conducted under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions in a laboratory. However, substantial discrepancies have been observed between laboratory and field studies, with CPP degrading faster in the field. The discrepancies may result from deviations from natural conditions, potentially including the loss of key anaerobic microbes during soil preparation in the laboratory. As a result, laboratory anaerobic OECD tests can misrepresent the persistence of CPP in the environment and our understanding of the metabolic competency of anaerobic soil microbial communities remains limited.

In collaboration with leaders in the Agri-Tech industry, Syngenta, this study will systematically investigate changes in the soil microbiome in response to CPP applications to agricultural soils comparing laboratory with field scale tests. To do this, we will use a combination of ‘omics and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to characterize the composition and function of soil microbial communities, and track the breakdown and persistence with radio-labeled CPP (¹⁴C) and LC-MS/MS.

The project will:

– Improve understanding of the role of soil microbial communities in biogeochemical cycling, beneficial ecosystem services and how CCP may impact them.

– Resolve deviations in environmental impact testing between lab and field scale tests.

– Inform and improve conceptual models for the degradation of CPP.

The student will be located in Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, with access to state-of-the-art laboratory and ‘omics facilities. A minimum of 3 months will be spent with Syngenta (Jealott’s Hill site), with access to analytical instrumentation and training. Radio-labelling studies will be conducted at Newcastle University. Presentation by the student at annual external collaboration events hosted by Syngenta and conferences will provide opportunities for networking. 

Eligibility and How to Apply:

Please note eligibility requirement:

•       Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non- UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.

•       Appropriate IELTS score, if required.

•       Applicants cannot apply for this funding if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere or if they have previously been awarded a PhD.

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see 

Deadline for applications:  18/12/2023

Start Date: 1st March 2024

Northumbria University takes pride in, and values, the quality and diversity of our staff and students. We welcome applications from all members of the community.