This project will develop the concepts of a farm-scale sustainable nutrient management (SNM) decision support system (DSS) focusing on N and P management. The SNM-DSS will be developed from an existing slurry management DSS (developed by the Agmet Group), based on a 1D SMD model, in conjunction with a number of stand-alone nutrient management support tools developed by Teagasc.
Consideration will be given to farm nutrient balance, timing of nutrient application and safe nutrient application. The DSS will have two driving principles: when there is no risk of storage capacity being exceeded, advice will focus on nutrient utilisations; alternatively, advice will focus on safe spreading and minimum pollution of ground or surface water, when slurry volumes are approaching full storage capacity.
Specific issues to be considered include:
• Examination of the fate of gravity moved water
• A spatial component for the underlying SMD model
• Developing the drainage risk component of the DSS
• Field evaluation of SMD thresholds for limits to trafficability and “safe” spreading
Applicants will require a good Honours Science degree in a suitable subject, for example Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Biosystems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Soil Scienceor a related discipline.
Enquiries to:
Prof. Nicholas Holden
Bioresources Research Centre / Biosystems Engineering
UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine
University College Dublin
Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, IRELAND
Tel: +353 1 716 7460
Email: Nick.Holden@ucd.ie
Applications to be received by 17:00 GMT on 07/03/2008
Application Deadline - 15 May 2008
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