Cranfield University

Dr Paul Burgess

Senior Lecturer in Crop Ecology and Management
Location: Building 42, Cranfield campus
E: p.burgess@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1234 750111 x2729
Natural Resources

Current activities

Dr Paul Burgess is the Programme Leader for the Land Management programme.

He has recently been involved in the ecology and economics of silvoarable agroforestry in Europe as well as the effects of silvoarable agroforestry with poplar on farm profitability and biodiversity. Development of PlotSAFE 2006 (a worksheet-based model of crop and tree yields in arable, forestry and agroforestry systems), and development of the FarmSAFE 2006 (a worksheet-based model to compare the profitability of arable, forestry and agroforestry systems at a farm- and a landscape-scale) has comprised part of his recent activity. Alongside this he has also been actively involved in the use of agro-ecological and other spatial data to inform prioritisation of organic farming research in Europe, mechanical harvesting of tea, the water use of farm-woodland and short-rotation coppice, and the role of community woodlands in sustainable development.

Clients

• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
• Department for International Development (DFID)
• European Commission
• FAL, Switzerland 
• Food and Agriculture Organisation
• James Finlay Ltd
• Tea Research Association, Tocklai, India
• Tea Research Institute of Tanzania.

Background

After completing a BSc in Agriculture (Reading University) and a MSc in Land and Water Management (Cranfield University), Dr Paul Burgess undertook his PhD research (Cranfield University) on tea agronomy whilst employed by ODA in Tanzania.  After working for a consortium of private companies, Paul joined Cranfield University as a lecturer in 1995.  His research interests include plantation crop agronomy, agroforestry, and woodland management.

Selected publications

• Agbenyega, O, Burgess, P.J., Cook, M & Morris, J. (2009). Application of the ecosystem function framework to perceptions of community woodlands. Land Use Policy 26(3): 551-557.
• Suguira, A., Tyrrel, S.F., Seymour, I. & Burgess, P.J. (2008). Water Renew systems: wastewater polishing using renewable energy crops. Water Science and Technology 57(9): 1421-1428.
• Castellazzi, M.S., Wood, G.A., Burgess, P.J., Morris, J., Conrad, K.F., & Perry, J.N. (2008). A systematic representation of crop rotations. Agricultural Systems 97: 26-33.
• Graves, A.R., Burgess, P.J., Palma, J.H.N., Herzog, F., Moreno, G., Bertomeu, M., Dupraz, C., Liagre, F., Keesman, K., van der Werf, W. Koeffeman de Nooy, A. & van den Briel, J.P. (2007). Development and application of bio-economic modelling to compare silvoarable, arable and forestry systems in three European countries. Ecological Engineering. 29: 434-449
• van der Werf, W., Keesman, K., Burgess, P.J., Graves, A.R., Pilbeam, D, Incoll, L.D, Metselaar, K., Mayus, M., Stappers, R., van Keulen, H., Palma, J & Dupraz, C. (2007). Yield-SAFE: a parameter-sparse process-based dynamic model for predicting resource capture, growth and production in agroforestry systems. Ecological Engineering 29: 419-433
• Palma, J.H.N., Graves, A.R., Burgess, P.J., Keesman, K.J., van Keulen, H., Mayus, M., Reisner, Y. & Herzog, F. (2007). Methodological approach for the assessment of environment effects of agroforestry at the landscape scale. Ecological Engineering 29: 450-462
• Palma, J.H.N., Graves, A.R., Bunce, R.G.H., Burgess, P.J., de Filippi, F., Keesman, K.J., van Keulen, H., Liagre, F., Mayus, M., Moreno, G., Reisner, Y. & Herzog, H. (2007). Modeling environmental benefits of silvoarable agroforestry in Europe. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 119: 320-334
• Burgess, P.J. & Sannier, C.A.D. (2006). Using agro-ecological zones to promote European collaboration in organic farming research. Aspects of Applied Biology 79: 83-87.
• Burgess, P.J., Reinhard, B.R. & Pasturel, P. (2006). Compatible measurements of volumetric soil water content using a neutron probe and Diviner 2000 after field calibration. Soil Use and Management 22: 401-404
• Burgess, P.J., Carr, M.K.V., Mizambwa, F.C.S., Nixon, D.J., Lugusi, J. & Kimambo, E.I. (2006). Evaluation of simple hand-held mechanical systems for harvesting tea (Camellia sinensis). Experimental Agriculture 42: 165-187
• Burgess, P.J. and Hess, T.M. (2005). Managing, Operating and Maintaining Irrigation and Drainage Systems Short Course 17 October to 9 December 2005
• Dupraz, C, Burgess, P.J., Gavaland, A., Graves, A.R., Herzog, F., Incoll, L.D., Jackson, N., Keesman, K., Lawson, G., Lecomte, I., Mantzanas, K., Mayus, M., Palma, J., Papanastasis, V., Paris, P., Pilbeam, D.J., Reisner, Y., van Noordwijk, M., Vincent, G. & van der Werf, W. (2005). SAFE (Silvoarable Agroforestry for Europe) Synthesis Report. SAFE Project (August 2001-January 2005)
• Burgess, P.J., Incoll, L.D., Corry, D.T., Beaton, A. & Hart, B.J. (2005). Poplar growth and crop yields within a silvoarable agroforestry system at three lowland sites in England. Agroforestry Systems 63(2): 157-169.
• Burgess, P.J., Brierley, E.D.R., Morris, J. & Evans, J. (1999). Farm Woodlands for the Future. Oxford: Bios Scientific Publishers Ltd. ISBN 1 85996 133 9

Further publications