Drivers of Carbon Sequestration in Hedgerows: Effects of Structure, Management and Species Composition Across European Farms

Hedgerows are semi-natural habitats typical of agricultural landscapes across Europe and over the globe. Sitting at the interface between farming, ecology, soil science and land management, they provide multiple ecosystem services, including biodiversity support, water regulation, microclimate buffering, soil protection and carbon storage. However, these services depend on how hedgerows are established and managed by people. Understanding this relationship is essential for hedgerows to contribute to into sustainable agricultural systems. <br /> This PhD project will focus on the role of hedgerows in climate change mitigation, with a particular emphasis on carbon sequestration in soils and biomass across European agricultural systems. Building on Biffi et al. (2023, 2025), which quantified carbon stocks and sequestration rates in hedgerow biomass and soils, the PhD will investigate how hedgerow structure, management practices, and landscape context influence carbon dynamics. The PhD will also contribute to a broader understanding of how hedgerows are managed across Europe, and how management decisions shape their delivery of multiple ecosystem services. <br /> The project will be part of the EU Horizon Europe Climate Smart Research project, which provides access to 29 experimental farms across Europe. The candidate will work in a highly international setting, collaborating with partners in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. This offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate hedgerows across diverse climates, soils, farming systems and management traditions, while contributing to evidence on the role of semi-natural habitats in functioning agricultural landscapes.<br /> The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary research environment spanning agroecology, soil science, landscape ecology and climate change mitigation. They will gain expertise in field sampling, laboratory analysis, stakeholder engagement and quantitative modelling. This PhD offers an exciting opportunity to improve climate change mitigation estimates of agricultural practices and understanding of how hedgerow management can support ecosystem service provision, biodiversity-friendly farming and net-zero goals.<br />

<p style="margin-bottom:11px">The overall aim of this PhD is to improve understanding of how hedgerows function as managed semi-natural habitats within agricultural landscapes, and how their structure, composition and management influence carbon sequestration and wider ecosystem service provision across Europe.</p> <p><br /> <strong>The student will:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Quantify carbon stocks and sequestration potential in hedgerow aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and soils across contrasting European pedo-climatic regions, farming systems and landscape contexts.</li> <li>Assess how hedgerow structure and condition (e.g. including age, height, width, continuity, woody biomass, basal structure and associated ground vegetation) influence carbon storage above and below ground.</li> <li>Investigate how management practices (e.g. trimming frequency, cutting intensity, hedge laying, rejuvenation and planting history) affect hedgerow carbon dynamics and long-term sequestration potential.</li> <li>Evaluate the role of species composition and functional diversity in determining hedgerow biomass accumulation, soil carbon storage and resilience across different environmental conditions.</li> <li>Characterise how hedgerows are managed across European agricultural systems, drawing on the Climate Smart Research network to compare management traditions, farmer practices and regional policy contexts.</li> <li>Develop improved evidence for carbon accounting and climate-smart landscape management, situating hedgerow carbon sequestration within the broader delivery of ecosystem services such as biodiversity support, soil protection, water regulation and agricultural resilience.</li> </ol> <p> </p> <p><strong>Research Environment</strong></p> <p>This PhD will be based in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds, and be part of the <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/geography-research-river-basin-processes-management">River Basins research cluster</a>. They will also be embedded within the <a href="https://climatesmartresearch.eu/">Climate Smart Research project</a>, participate in online and face-to-face international workshops and meetings, and contribute to the delivery of Leeds work as part of the project.</p> <p>One full scholarship is available in the School of Geography in 2026/27.</p> <p>This scholarship is open to UK or international applicants and covers tuition fees plus a maintenance allowance matching current UKRI rates (£21,805 in 2026/27).</p> <p>The School of Geography invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2026/27.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:11px">To apply for this project you will need to make a formal application for research degree study through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN.</p> <ul> <li>For ‘Application type’ please select ‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’.</li> <li>The admission year for this project is 2026/2027 Academic Year.</li> <li>You will need to select your ‘Planned Course of Study’ from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select ‘PhD Geography (Physical Geography) Full-time’.</li> <li>The project start date for this project is 1 Oct 2026, please use this as your Proposed Start Date of Research.</li> <li>Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is “Drivers of Carbon Sequestration in Hedgerows” as well as <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/geography/staff/1125/professor-guy-ziv">Prof. Guy Ziv</a> as your proposed supervisor.</li> </ul> <p>More information on <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">how to apply is available on our website</a>.</p> <p>You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project you are applying for, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

A 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Geography, Environmental Science, Ecology or a related discipline <br /> A Master’s degree is desirable <br /> Experience with fieldwork, ecological data, or quantitative analysis is advantageous<br /> Knowledge and experience of agricultural systems is advantageous<br /> <br /> Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the PGR Admissions Team prior to making an application on env-pgr@leeds.ac.uk<br />

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p>For further information please contact either <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/geography/staff/1125/professor-guy-ziv">Prof. Guy Ziv</a>, or the Admissions team on <a href="http://env-pgr@leeds.ac.uk">env-pgr@leeds.ac.uk</a>.</p>