Contact Professor Guy Kirk
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758068
- Email: g.kirk@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Natural Capital
- Soil
Background
Guy Kirk joined Cranfield in February 2003. Before that he spent 13 years at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, initially as Soil Chemist and later as Head of the Soil and Water Sciences Division. Before IRRI he did doctoral and post-doctoral research in the Soil Science Laboratory, University of Oxford, and between IRRI and Cranfield he was on sabbatical in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge. He is Associate Editor of European Journal of Soil Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Current activities
Professor Kirk's research focuses on physical, chemical and biological processes in soils; how to quantify soil properties and functions; and how to model soil systems at scales from the microbial to the continental.
Current/recent projects include:
Mechanisms and genetics of iron toxicity tolerance in African rice. Funded by BBSRC-GCRF
Metal contamination of rice supplies in Asia. Funded by BBSRC-GCRF
Rice germplasm for high grain Zn content and tolerance of Zn deficient soils. Funded by BBSRC, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and DfID
Long-lived radionuclides in the surface environment. Funded by NERC
A field laboratory for measuring whole-soil carbon balances and greenhouse gas fluxes under controlled temperature and moisture. Funded by Royal Society/Wolfson Foundation
CarboExtreme - The terrestrial carbon cycle under climate variability and extremes - a pan-European synthesis. Funded by EU-FP7
An improved empirical model of soil carbon dynamics in temperate ecosystems. Funded by NERC
Clients
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- British Geological Survey
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Hanif M, Bullen J, Plancherel Y, Kirby M, Kirk G, .... (2024). Significant effect of salinity on zinc adsorption on tropical coastal and floodplain soils. European Journal of Soil Science, 75(5)
- Castillo J, Kirk GJD, Rivero J & Haefele SM. (2023). Regional differences in nitrogen balance and nitrogen use efficiency in the rice–livestock system of Uruguay. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7
- Castillo J, Kirk GJD, Rivero MJ, Fabini G, Terra JA, .... (2023). Measured and modeled nitrogen balances in lowland rice-pasture rotations in temperate South America. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7
- Rajonandraina T, Rakotoson T, Wissuwa M, Ueda Y, Razafimbelo T, .... (2023). Mechanisms of genotypic differences in tolerance of iron toxicity in field-grown rice. Field Crops Research, 298(July)
- Rajonandraina T, Ueda Y, Wissuwa M, Kirk GJD, Rakotoson T, .... (2023). Magnesium supply alleviates iron toxicity-induced leaf bronzing in rice through exclusion and tissue-tolerance mechanisms. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14
- Drame M, Carswell A, Roberts W, Hood J, Jemo M, .... (2023). Effects of hotter, drier conditions on gaseous losses from nitrogen fertilisers. Journal of Environmental Management, 345(November)
- Kuppe CW, Kirk GJD, Wissuwa M & Postma JA. (2022). Rice increases phosphorus uptake in strongly sorbing soils by intra-root facilitation. Plant, Cell & Environment, 45(3)
- Prout JM, Shepherd KD, McGrath SP, Kirk GJD, Hassall KL, .... (2022). Changes in organic carbon to clay ratios in different soils and land uses in England and Wales over time. Scientific Reports, 12(1)
- Haygarth PM, Kirk GJD & Jones DL. (2021). Innovations in soil science to address global grand challenges. European Journal of Soil Science, 72(6)
- Lefebvre D, Williams A, Kirk GJD, Meersmans J, Sohi S, .... (2021). An anticipatory life cycle assessment of the use of biochar from sugarcane residues as a greenhouse gas removal technology. Journal of Cleaner Production, 312(August)
- Castillo J, Kirk GJD, Rivero MJ, Dobermann A & Haefele SM. (2021). The nitrogen economy of rice-livestock systems in Uruguay. Global Food Security, 30(September)
- Kirk GJD, Manwaring HR, Ueda Y, Semwal VK & Wissuwa M. (2021). Below-ground plant-soil interactions affecting adaptations of rice to iron toxicity. Plant, Cell & Environment, 45(3)
- Lefebvre D, Williams AG, Kirk GJD, Burgess PJ, Meersmans J, .... (2021). Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project. Scientific Reports, 11(1)
- McCloskey CS, Otten W, Paterson E & Kirk GJD. (2021). On allowing for transient variation in end-member δ13C values in partitioning soil C fluxes from net ecosystem respiration. European Journal of Soil Science, 72(6)
- Haygarth PM, Lawrenson O, Mezeli M, Sayer EJ, McCloskey CS, .... (2021). On pedagogy of a Soil Science Centre for Doctoral Training. European Journal of Soil Science, 72(6)
- McCloskey CS, Otten W, Paterson E, Ingram BR & Kirk GJD. (2020). A field system for measuring plant and soil carbon fluxes using stable isotope methods. European Journal of Soil Science, 72(6)
- Prout JM, Shepherd KD, McGrath SP, Kirk GJD & Haefele SM. (2020). What is a good level of soil organic matter? An index based on organic carbon to clay ratio. European Journal of Soil Science, 72(6)
- Lefebvre D, Williams A, Meersmans J, Kirk GJD, Sohi S, .... (2020). Modelling the potential for soil carbon sequestration using biochar from sugarcane residues in Brazil. Scientific Reports, 10(1)
- Smith LG, Kirk GJD, Jones PJ & Williams AG. (2019). The greenhouse gas impacts of converting food production in England and Wales to organic methods. Nature Communications, 10(1)
- Darmovzalova J, Boghi A, Otten W, Eades LJ, Roose T, .... (2019). Uranium diffusion and time-dependent adsorption–desorption in soil: a model and experimental testing of the model. European Journal of Soil Science, 71(2)
- Kirk GJD, Boghi A, Affholder M-C, Keyes SD, Heppell J, .... (2019). Soil carbon dioxide venting through rice roots. Plant, Cell & Environment, 42(12)
- Goloran JB, Johnson-Beebout SE, Morete MJ, Impa SM, Kirk GJD, .... (2019). Grain Zn concentrations and yield of Zn-biofortified versus Zn-efficient rice genotypes under contrasting growth conditions. Field Crops Research, 234
- Kirk GJD & Bellamy PH. (2019). Erratum. European Journal of Soil Science, 70(4)
- Smith LG, Jones PJ, Kirk GJD, Pearce BD & Williams AG. (2018). Modelling the production impacts of a widespread conversion to organic agriculture in England and Wales. Land Use Policy, 76
- Boghi A, Roose T & Kirk GJD. (2018). A model of uranium uptake by plant roots allowing for root-induced changes in the soil. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(6)
- Okonkwo EI, Corstanje R & Kirk GJD. (2018). Digital soil assessment for quantifying soil constraints to crop production: a case study for rice in Punjab, India. Soil Use and Management, 34(4)
- Affholder M-C, Weiss DJ, Wissuwa M, Johnson-Beebout SE & Kirk GJD. (2017). Soil CO2 venting as one of the mechanisms for tolerance of Zn deficiency by rice in flooded soils. Plant, Cell & Environment, 40(12)
- Tipping E, Davies JAC, Henrys PA, Kirk GJD, Lilly A, .... (2017). Long-term increases in soil carbon due to ecosystem fertilization by atmospheric nitrogen deposition demonstrated by regional-scale modelling and observations. Scientific Reports, 7(1)
- Lloyd D, Ritz K, Paterson E & Kirk GJD. (2016). Effects of soil type and composition of rhizodeposits on rhizosphere priming phenomena. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 103
- Marković T, Manzoor S, Humphreys-Williams E, Kirk GJD, Vilar R, .... (2016). Experimental determination of zinc isotope fractionation in complexes with the phytosiderophore 2′-deoxymugeneic acid (DMA) and its structural analogues, and implications for plant uptake mechanisms. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(1)
- Masum S, Kirk GJD, Daly KR & Roose T. (2016). The effect of non-uniform microscale distribution of sorption sites on solute diffusion in soil. European Journal of Soil Science, 67(4)
- Mori A, Kirk GJD, Lee J-S, Morete MJ, Nanda AK, .... (2016). Rice genotype differences in tolerance of zinc-deficient soils: evidence for the importance of root-induced changes in the rhizosphere. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6(JAN2016)
- Kirk GJD. (2016). Climate change: carbon losses in the Alps. Nature Geoscience, 9(7)
- Izquierdo M, Impa SM, Johnson-Beebout SE, Weiss DJ & Kirk GJD. (2015). Measurement of isotopically-exchangeable Zn in Zn-deficient paddy soil. European Journal of Soil Science, 67(1)
- Whitmore AP, Kirk GJD & Rawlins BG. (2015). Technologies for increasing carbon storage in soil to mitigate climate change. Soil Use and Management, 31(S1)
- Arnold T, Markovic T, Kirk GJD, Schönbächler M, Rehkämper M, .... (2015). Iron and zinc isotope fractionation during uptake and translocation in rice (Oryza sativa) grown in oxic and anoxic soils. Comptes Rendus. Géoscience, 347(7-8)
- Kirk GJD, Versteegen A, Ritz K & Milodowski AE. (2015). A simple reactive-transport model of calcite precipitation in soils and other porous media. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 165
- Gregory AS, Kirk GJD, Keay CA, Rawlins BG, Wallace P, .... (2014). An assessment of subsoil organic carbon stocks in
E ngland andW ales. Soil Use and Management, 30(1) - Rimmer DL, Kirk GJD & Bourrié G. (2013). Landmark Papers: No. 2. Quirk, J. P. & Schofield, R. K. 1955. The effect of electrolyte concentration on soil permeability.Journal of Soil Science, 6, 163–178.Commentary on the impact of Quirk & Schofield (1955): by D. L. Rimmer, G. J. D. Kirk & G. Bourrié. European Journal of Soil Science, 64(1)
- Guenet B, Moyano FE, Vuichard N, Kirk GJD, Bellamy PH, .... (2013). Can we model observed soil carbon changes from a dense inventory? A case study over England and Wales using three versions of the ORCHIDEE ecosystem model (AR5, AR5-PRIM and O-CN). Geoscientific Model Development, 6(6)
- Foereid B, Bellamy PH, Holden A & Kirk GJD. (2012). On the initialization of soil carbon models and its effects on model predictions for England and Wales. European Journal of Soil Science, 63(1)
- Arnold T, Schönbächler M, Rehkämper M, Dong S, Zhao F-J, .... (2011). Erratum: Measurement of zinc stable isotope ratios in biogeochemical matrices by double-spike MC-ICPMS and determination of the isotope ratio pool available for plants from soil. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 399(3)
- PTASHNYK M, ROOSE T, JONES DL & KIRK GJD. (2011). Enhanced zinc uptake by rice through phytosiderophore secretion: a modelling study. Plant, Cell & Environment, 34(12)
- Zygalakis KC, Kirk GJD, Jones DL, Wissuwa M & Roose T. (2011). A dual porosity model of nutrient uptake by root hairs. New Phytologist, 192(3)
- Greenland DJ, Tinker PB & Kirk GJD. (2011). Peter Hague Nye. 16 September 1921 — 13 February 2009. Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 57(57)
- ARNOLD TIM, KIRK GJD, WISSUWA M, FREI M, ZHAO F-J, .... (2010). Evidence for the mechanisms of zinc uptake by rice using isotope fractionation. Plant, Cell & Environment, 33(3)
- Ptashnyk M, Roose T & Kirk GJD. (2010). Diffusion of strongly sorbed solutes in soil: a dual‐porosity model allowing for slow access to sorption sites and time‐dependent sorption reactions. European Journal of Soil Science, 61(1)
- Leitner D, Klepsch S, Ptashnyk M, Marchant A, Kirk GJD, .... (2010). A dynamic model of nutrient uptake by root hairs. New Phytologist, 185(3)
- Kirk GJD & Bellamy PH. (2010). Analysis of changes in organic carbon in mineral soils across England and Wales using a simple single‐pool model. European Journal of Soil Science, 61(3)
- KIRK GJD, BELLAMY PH & LARK RM. (2010). Changes in soil pH across England and Wales in response to decreased acid deposition. Global Change Biology, 16(11)
- Roose T & Kirk GJD. (2009). The solution of convection–diffusion equations for solute transport to plant roots. Plant and Soil, 316(1-2)
- Oburger E, Kirk GJD, Wenzel WW, Puschenreiter M & Jones DL. (2009). Interactive effects of organic acids in the rhizosphere. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 41(3)
- Huguenin-Elie O, Kirk GJD & Frossard E. (2009). The effects of water regime on phosphorus responses of rainfed lowland rice cultivars. Annals of Botany, 103(2)
- Lark RM, Bellamy PH & Kirk GJD. (2009). Comments on 'Baseline values and change in the soil, and implications for monitoring' Response to Potts et al.. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, 60(3)
- Wissuwa M, Frei M, Arnold T, Weiss DJ & Kirk GJ. (2008). 9-33 Zinc (Zn) isotope discrimination patterns reveal different uptake mechanisms in Zn efficient and inefiacient rice genotypes.
- Corstanje R, Kirk GJD & Lark RM. (2008). The behaviour of soil process models of ammonia volatilization at contrasting spatial scales. European Journal of Soil Science, 59(6)
- Corstanje R, Kirk GJD, Pawlett M, Read R & Lark RM. (2008). Spatial variation of ammonia volatilization from soil and its scale‐dependent correlation with soil properties. European Journal of Soil Science, 59(6)
- Jones DL, Kirk GJD & Staunton S. (2006). Foreword to the ‘Rhizosphere 2004’ papers in this issue of the Journal. European Journal of Soil Science, 57(1)
- 直樹 森, Brittain S, Tomos D, Jones D & Kirk G. (2006). P3-2 数ナノリットル容の根圏土壌溶液の採取と分析(3. 土壌分析法, 2006年度秋田大会講演要旨).
- Lark RM, Bellamy PH & Kirk GJD. (2006). Baseline values and change in the soil, and implications for monitoring. European Journal of Soil Science, 57(6)
- Bellamy PH, Loveland PJ, Bradley RI, Lark RM & Kirk GJD. (2005). Carbon losses from all soils across England and Wales 1978–2003. Nature, 437(7056)
- Pheav S, Bell RW, White PF & Kirk GJD. (2005). Phosphorus Mass Balances for Successive Crops of Fertilised Rainfed Rice on a Sandy Lowland Soil. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 73(2-3)
- Weiss DJ, Mason TFD, Zhao FJ, Kirk GJD, Coles BJ, .... (2005). Isotopic discrimination of zinc in higher plants. New Phytologist, 165(3)
- Sheehy JE, Mitchell PL, Kirk GJD & Ferrer AB. (2005). Can smarter nitrogen fertilizers be designed?. Field Crops Research, 94(1)
- Yang XE, Li H, Kirk GJD & Dobbermann A. (2005). Room‐Induced Changes of Potassium in the Rhizosphere of Lowland Rice. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 36(13-14)
- KIRK GJD & KRONZUCKER HJ. (2005). The Potential for Nitrification and Nitrate Uptake in the Rhizosphere of Wetland Plants: A Modelling Study. Annals of Botany, 96(4)
- Kirk GJD. (2003). Rice root properties for internal aeration and efficient nutrient acquisition in submerged soil. New Phytologist, 159(1)
- Kirk GJD, Solivas JL & Alberto MC. (2003). Effects of flooding and redox conditions on solute diffusion in soil. European Journal of Soil Science, 54(3)
- Pheav S, Bell RW, White PF & Kirk GJD. (2003). Fate of applied fertilizer phosphorus in a highly weathered sandy soil under lowland rice cropping, and its residual effect. Field Crops Research, 81(1)
- Huguenin‐Elie O, Kirk GJD & Frossard E. (2003). Phosphorus uptake by rice from soil that is flooded, drained or flooded then drained. European Journal of Soil Science, 54(1)
- Quijano-Guerta C, Kirk GJD, Portugal AM, Bartolome VI & McLaren GC. (2002). Tolerance of rice germplasm to zinc deficiency. Field Crops Research, 76(2-3)
- Kirk GJD. (2002). Use of modelling to understand nutrient acquisition by plants. Plant and Soil, 247(1)
- Kirk GJD. (2002). Modelling root-induced solubilization of nutrients. Plant and Soil, 245(1)
- Huguenin-Elie O, Kirk GJD & Frossard E. (2002). A method for controlling water content of small volumes of planted soil. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 33(11-12)
- Quijano-Guerta C & Kirk GJD. (2002). Tolerance of rice germplasm to salinity and other soil chemical stresses in tidal wetlands. Field Crops Research, 76(2-3)
- Kirk GJD. (2001). Plant-mediated processess to acquire nutrients: Nitrogen uptake by rice plants. Plant and Soil, 232(1/2)
- Arah JRM & Kirk GJD. (2000). Modeling rice plant-mediated methane emission. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 58(1/3)
- KRONZUCKER HJ, GLASS ADM, SIDDIQI MY & KIRK GJD. (2000). Comparative kinetic analysis of ammonium and nitrate acquisition by tropical lowland rice: implications for rice cultivation and yield potential. New Phytologist, 145(3)
- Kirk GJD. (1999). A model of phosphate solubilization by organic anion excretion from plant roots. European Journal of Soil Science, 50(3)
- KIRK GJD, SANTOS EE & SANTOS MB. (1999). Phosphate solubilization by organic anion excretion from rice growing in aerobic soil: rates of excretion and decomposition, effects on rhizosphere pH and effects on phosphate solubility and uptake. New Phytologist, 142(2)
- Kronzucker HJ, Siddiqi MY, Glass ADM & Kirk GJD. (1999). Nitrate-Ammonium Synergism in Rice. A Subcellular Flux Analysis1. Plant Physiology, 119(3)
- Wihardjaka A, Kirk GJD, Abdulrachman S & Mamaril CP. (1999). Potassium balances in rainfed lowland rice on a light-textured soil. Field Crops Research, 64(3)
- Kirk GJD, George T, Courtois B & Senadhira D. (1998). Opportunities to improve phosphorus efficiency and soil fertility in rainfed lowland and upland rice ecosystems. Field Crops Research, 56(1-2)
- Kronzucker HJ, Schjoerring JK, Erner Y, Kirk GJD, Yaeesh Siddiqi M, .... (1998). Dynamic Interactions between Root NH4+ Influx and Long-Distance N Translocation in Rice: Insights into Feedback Processes. Plant and Cell Physiology, 39(12)
- Kronzucker HJ, Kirk GJD, Yaeesh Siddiqi M & Glass ADM. (1998). Effects of Hypoxia on 13NH4+Fluxes in Rice Roots1. Plant Physiology, 116(2)
- Ladha JK, Kirk GJD, Bennett J, Peng S, Reddy CK, .... (1998). Opportunities for increased nitrogen-use efficiency from improved lowland rice germplasm. Field Crops Research, 56(1-2)
- KIRK GJD & SOLIVAS JL. (1997). On the extent to which root properties and transport through the soil limit nitrogen uptake by lowland rice. European Journal of Soil Science, 48(4)
- KIRK GJD & VAN DU LE. (1997). Changes in rice root architecture, porosity, and oxygen and proton release under phosphorus deficiency. New Phytologist, 135(2)
- KIRK GJD & SALEQUE MA. (1995). Solubilization of phosphate by rice plants growing in reduced soil: prediction of the amount solubilized and the resultant increase in uptake. European Journal of Soil Science, 46(2)
- KIRK GJD & BAJITA JB. (1995). Root‐induced iron oxidation, pH changes and zinc solubilization in the rhizosphere of lowland rice. New Phytologist, 131(1)
- SALEQUE MA & KIRK GJD. (1995). Root‐induced solubilization of phosphate in the rhizosphere of lowland rice. New Phytologist, 129(2)
- BEGG CBM, KIRK GJD, MACKENZIE AF & NEUE H. (1994). Root‐induced iron oxidation and pH changes in the lowland rice rhizosphere. New Phytologist, 128(3)
- KIRK GJD & SOLIVAS JL. (1994). Coupled diffusion and oxidation of ferrous iron in soils: III. Further development of the model and experimental testing. European Journal of Soil Science, 45(3)
- Hedley MJ, Kirk GJR & Santos MB. (1994). Phosphorus efficiency and the forms of soil phosphorus utilized by upland rice cultivars. Plant and Soil, 158(1)
- SINGH R & KIRK GJD. (1993). A model for predicting the fate of nitrogen fertilizer in lowland ricefields. Journal of Soil Science, 44(2)
- SINGH R & KIRK GJD. (1993). A model for predicting the fate of nitrogen fertilizer in lowland ricefields. Journal of Soil Science, 44(2)
- Kirk GJD, Begg CBM & Solivas JL. (1993). The chemistry of the lowland rice rhizosphere. Plant and Soil, 155-156(1)
- Kirk GJD & Rachhpal-Singh . (1992). Simultaneous transfer across an air-water interface of gases that interact through acid-base reactions. Atmospheric Environment. Part A. General Topics, 26(9)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1991). A model of ammonia volatilization from applied urea. VI. The effects of transient‐state water evaporation. Journal of Soil Science, 42(1)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1991). A model of ammonia volatilization from applied urea. V. The effects of steady‐state drainage and evaporation. Journal of Soil Science, 42(1)
- Kirk GJD. (1990). Diffusion of inorganic materials in soil. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 329(1255)
- KIRK GJD, AHMAD AR & NYE PH. (1990). Coupled diffusion and oxidation of ferrous iron in soils. II. A model of the diffusion and reaction of O2, Fe2+, H+ and HCO3− in soils and a sensitivity analysis of the model. Journal of Soil Science, 41(3)
- Bell RH, Kirk G, Plaskett D & Loneragan JF. (1990). Diagnosis of zinc deficiency in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) by plant analysis. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 21(3-4)
- KIRK GJD & STAUNTON S. (1989). On predicting the fate of radioactive caesium in soil beneath grassland. Journal of Soil Science, 40(1)
- Nye PH & Kirk GJD. (1987). The mechanism of rock phosphate solubilization in the rhizosphere. Plant and Soil, 100(1-3)
- Loneragan JF, Kirk GJ & Webb MJ. (1987). Translocation and function of zinc in roots. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 10(9)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1986). The dissolution and dispersion of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate in soils. Journal of Soil Science, 37(4)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1986). A simple model for predicting the rates of dissolution of sparingly soluble calcium phosphates in soil. Journal of Soil Science, 37(4)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1986). The dissolution and dispersion of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate in soils. Journal of Soil Science, 37(4)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1986). A simple model for predicting the rates of dissolution of sparingly soluble calcium phosphates in soil. Journal of Soil Science, 37(4)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1985). The dissolution and dispersion of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate in soils.. Journal of Soil Science, 36(3)
- KIRK GJD & NYE PH. (1985). The dissolution and dispersion of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate in soils.. Journal of Soil Science, 36(3)
