PhD study: Phosphorus fate and management on the West Sedgemoor SSSI water system

Tender description

Study to look at how ditch management can be changed to accelerate recovery from nutrient enrichment which will include dealing with the existing burden of phosphorus (P) in the system, covering: • The effects of winter flooding • The optimum frequency of de-silting and weed cutting in the ditches and ways of extporting nutrients from the system (ie. how to deal with dredgings) • The partitioning of (P) between sediment, (P) and algae/Lemna and factors affecting this such as flow, water levels, seasonality and physico-chemical factors such as dissolved oxygen • The luxury uptake of (P) by Lemna and the possibility of 'harvesting' Lemna and other macroalgae to reduce internal cycling and to export nutrients. - Rapid ways of monitoring Lemna and algae cover (eg. drones) - The interactions between water level management and the operation of structures and nutrient dynamics.