Contact Professor Jerry Knox
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758365
- Email: j.knox@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Agrifood Systems
- Water Science and Engineering
Background
Jerry has an international reputation in the science, engineering, and management of water resources for agriculture, including assessing the relationships between water resources, drought, agricultural productivity and the environment, and the sustainability of irrigated production in the context of climate impacts and food security.
Research opportunities
His research interests are in biophysical and water resource modelling, irrigation agronomy, soil and irrigation management, abiotic (drought) impacts on crop productivity and climate change impacts and adaptation responses in agriculture
Current activities
30 years international irrigation research and consultancy experience including technical missions to Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malta, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Swaziland, Tanzania, Turkey, the UK, USA and Zambia.
2023-25: Principal Investigator: FCDO “Building resilience to climate and drought risks: development of a prototype decision support tool for irrigated agriculture in S Africa”.
2023-24: Principal Investigator: British Council “Supporting socially and environmentally sustainable sugarcane expansion: academia-industry collaboration to evaluate alternate production technologies and management strategies
2023-24: Principal Investigator: Defra / EA “Assessing impacts of regional drought risks and abstraction reform on agriculture in eastern England”.
2023-24: Principal Investigator: Innovate UK Farming Innovation Programme “Developing floatovoltaics for agriculture” with TeamAg (UK), Dyson Farming, Polybell Farms and Achelous Energy.
2023-24: Co-Investigator: Innovate UK Farming Innovation Programme “Development of a prototype rainwater harvesting decision support tool to reduce water and climate-related risks in UK agriculture” with Berryworld UK.
2022-23: Co-Investigator “Prototype planning tool for green hydrogen generation and use in UK agriculture” Impact Accelerator Account EPSRC
Author of 100 peer-reviewed journal papers; Scopus h-index: 31; Google Scholar h-index: 40.
Clients
UK Research Councils, including NERC and BBSRC.
UK Government departments including Defra and DFID.
European Commission (H2020) and DG Environment.
Environment Agency (EA)
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), including UK Potato Council (PCL) and Horticulture Development Company (HDC).
UN FAO
UK and international agri-businesses
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Chengot R, Zylberman R, Momblanch A, Salazar OV, Hess T, .... (2024). Evaluating the impacts of agricultural development and climate change on the water-energy nexus in Santa Elena (Ecuador). Environmental Science & Policy, 152
- Knox JW & Weatherhead EK. (2024). Catchment-scale challenges for water resources management: assessing ‘reasonable’ peak needs for irrigated agriculture in a humid climate. Hydrology, 11(3)
- Dahri SH, Shaikh IA, Talpur MA, Mangrio MA, Dahri ZH, .... (2024). Modelling the impacts of climate change on the sustainability of rainfed and irrigated maize in Pakistan. Agricultural Water Management, 296
- Sutcliffe C, Knox JW & Hess T. (2023). ‘I think this is where this lovely word “sustainability” comes in’: Fruit and vegetable growers' narratives concerning the regulation of environmental water use for food production. Sociologia Ruralis, 63(3)
- Naranjo L, Correa-Cano ME, Rey D, Chengot R, España F, .... (2023). A scenario-specific nexus modelling toolkit to identify trade-offs in the promotion of sustainable irrigated agriculture in Ecuador, a Belt and Road country. Journal of Cleaner Production, 413(August)
- Rawat A, Panigrahi N, Yadav B, Jadav K, Mohanty MP, .... (2023). Scaling up indigenous rainwater harvesting: a preliminary assessment in Rajasthan, India. Water, 15(11)
- Chunga BA, Graves A & Knox JW. (2023). Evaluating barriers to effective rural stakeholder engagement in catchment management in Malawi. Environmental Science and Policy, 147(September)
- Jacque H, Knox JW, Gush M & Holman IP. (2023). Modelling the potential of rainwater harvesting to improve the sustainability of landscape and public garden irrigation. Journal of Environmental Management, 348(December)
- Holman IP & Knox JW. (2023). Research and policy priorities to address drought and irrigation water resource risks in temperate agriculture. Cambridge Prisms: Water, 1
- Sakrabani R, Garnett K, Knox JW, Rickson RJ, Pawlett M, .... (2023). Towards net zero in agriculture: future challenges and opportunities for arable, livestock and protected cropping systems in the UK. Outlook On Agriculture, 52(2)
- Correa-Cano ME, Salmoral G, Rey Vicario D, Knox JW, Graves A, .... (2022). A novel modelling toolkit for unpacking the Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) nexus of agricultural development. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 159(May)
- Zubelzu S, Panigrahi N, Thompson AJ & Knox JW. (2022). Modelling water fluxes to improve banana irrigation scheduling and management in Magdalena, Colombia. Irrigation Science, 41(1)
- Lankford B, Pringle C, McCosh J, Shabalala M, Hess T, .... (2022). Irrigation area, efficiency and water storage mediate the drought resilience of irrigated agriculture in a semi-arid catchment. Science of The Total Environment, 859(Pt 2)
- Chengot R, Knox JW, Coxon G, Cojocaru G & Holman IP. (2022). An enhanced version of the D-Risk decision support webtool for multi-scale management of water abstraction and drought risks in irrigated agriculture. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 204(January)
- Pawlett M, Hannam JA & Knox JW. (2021). Redefining soil health. Microbiology, 167(1)
- Chengot R, Knox JW & Holman IP. (2021). Evaluating the feasibility of water sharing as a drought risk management tool for irrigated agriculture. Sustainability, 13(3)
- Kamwamba-Mtethiwa J, Wiyo K, Knox JW & Weatherhead EK. (2021). Diffusion of small-scale pumped irrigation technologies and their association with farmer-led irrigation development in Malawi. Water International, 46(3)
- Silici L, Rowe A, Suppiramaniam N & Knox JW. (2021). Building adaptive capacity of smallholder agriculture to climate change: evidence synthesis on learning outcomes. Environmental Research Communications, 3(12)
- Holman IP, Hess T, Rey Vicario D & Knox JW. (2021). A multi-level framework for adaptation to drought within temperate agriculture. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 8
- Knox JW, Kay MG, Hess T & Holman IP. (2020). The challenges of developing an irrigation strategy for UK agriculture and horticulture in 2020: industry and research priorities. CABI Reviews, 15(50)
- Hess T, Knox JW, Holman IP & Sutcliffe C. (2020). Resilience of primary food production to a changing climate: on-farm responses to water-related risks. Water, 12(8)
- Lankford B, Closas A, Dalton J, López Gunn E, Hess T, .... (2020). A scale-based framework to understand the promises, pitfalls and paradoxes of irrigation efficiency to meet major water challenges. Global Environmental Change, 65
- Salmoral G, Carbó AV, Zegarra E, Knox JW & Rey D. (2020). Reconciling irrigation demands for agricultural expansion with environmental sustainability - a preliminary assessment for the Ica Valley, Peru. Journal of Cleaner Production, 276
- Salmoral G, Zegarra E, Vázquez-Rowe I, González FG, Castillo LD, .... (2020). Water-related challenges in nexus governance for sustainable development: Insights from the city of Arequipa, Peru. Science of The Total Environment, 747
- Panigrahi N, Thompson AJ, Zubelzu S & Knox JW. (2020). Identifying opportunities to improve management of water stress in banana production. Scientia Horticulturae, 276
- Khan MAA, Mahmood Ch K, Ashraf I, Siddiqui MT & Knox JW. (2020). Evaluating socio-economic and environmental factors influencing farm-level water scarcity in Punjab, Pakistan. Irrigation and Drainage, 70(4)
- Clarke D, Hess TM, Haro Monteagudo D, Semenov MM & Knox JW. (2020). Assessing future drought risks and wheat yield losses in England. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 297
- Sutcliffe C, Knox JW & Hess T. (2020). Managing irrigation under pressure: how supply chain demands and environmental objectives drive imbalance in agricultural resilience to water shortages. Agricultural Water Management, 243
- Papadimitriou L, Hallett S, Sakrabani R, Borg M, Thompson A, .... (2019). Developing a water strategy for sustainable irrigated agriculture in Mediterranean island communities – Insights from Malta. Outlook on Agriculture, 48(2)
- D’Agostino D, Borg M, Hallett SH, Sakrabani R, Thompson A, .... (2019). Multi-stakeholder analysis to improve agricultural water management policy and practice in Malta. Agricultural Water Management, 229
- Haro Monteagudo D, Knox JW & Holman IP. (2019). D-Risk: a decision-support webtool for improving drought risk management in irrigated agriculture. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 162
- El Chami D, Knox JW, Daccache A & Weatherhead EK. (2019). Assessing the financial and environmental impacts of precision irrigation in a humid climate. Horticultural Science, 46(1)
- Knox JW, Haro Monteagudo D, Hess TM & Morris J. (2018). Identifying trade-offs and reconciling competing demands for water - integrating agriculture into a robust decision-making framework. Earth's Future, 6(10)
- Gómez‐Armayones C, Kvalbein A, Aamlid TS & Knox JW. (2018). Assessing evidence on the agronomic and environmental impacts of turfgrass irrigation management. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 204(4)
- González Perea R, Daccache A, Rodríguez Díaz JA, Camacho Poyato E & Knox JW. (2018). Modelling impacts of precision irrigation on crop yield and in-field water management. Precision Agriculture, 19(3)
- Knox JW, Haro-Monteagudo D, Hess T & Morris J. (2018). Forecasting Changes in Agricultural Irrigation Demand to Support a Regional Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy. Advances in Chemical Pollution, Environmental Management and Protection, 3(Agric Water Manag 93 2007)
- Morris J, Else MA, El Chami D, Daccache A, Rey D, .... (2017). Essential irrigation and the economics of strawberries in a temperate climate. Agricultural Water Management, 194
- Hallett S, Sakrabani R, Thompson A, Deeks LK & Knox JW. (2017). Improving soil and water management for agriculture: insights and innovation from Malta. MCAST Journal of Applied Research & Practice, 1(1)
- Rey D, Holman IP & Knox JW. (2017). Developing drought resilience in irrigated agriculture in the face of increasing water scarcity. Regional Environmental Change, 17(5)
- Rey D, Holman IP, Daccache A, Morris J, Weatherhead EK, .... (2016). Modelling and mapping the economic value of supplemental irrigation in a humid climate, Agricultural Water Management. Agricultural Water Management, 173
- Aamlid TS, Knox JW, Riley H, Kvalbvein A & Pettersen T. (2016). Crop coefficients, growth rates and quality of cool-season turfgrasses. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 202(1)
- Pérez-Ortolá M, Daccache A & Knox JW. (2016). Modelling irrigation and fertiliser use for chlorophyll production. Grassland Science, 62(2)
- Kamwamba-Mtethiwa J, Weatherhead EK & Knox JW. (2016). Assessing performance of small-scale pumped irrigation systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from a systematic review. Irrigation and Drainage, 65(3)
- Sharmina M, Hoolohan C, Bows-Larkin A, Burgess PJ, Colwill J, .... (2016). A nexus perspective on competing land demands: Wider lessons from a UK policy case study. Environmental Science & Policy, 59
- Knox JW, Daccache A, Hess TM & Haro Monteagudo D. (2016). Meta-analysis of climate impacts and uncertainty on crop yields in Europe. Environmental Research Letters, 11(11)
- Hess TM, Sumberg J, Biggs T, Georgescu M, Haro Monteagudo D, .... (2016). A sweet deal? Sugarcane, water and agricultural transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Global Environmental Change, 39
- Ngirazie LA, Bushara AI & Knox JW. (2015). Assessing the performance of water user associations in the Gash Irrigation Project, Sudan. Water International, 40(4)
- Hess T, Daccache A, Daneshkhah A & Knox JW. (2015). Scale impacts on spatial variability in reference evapotranspiration. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 61(3)
- Watts G, Battarbee RW, Bloomfield JP, Daccache A, Hess T, .... (2015). Climate change and water in the UK – past changes and future prospects. Physical Geography, 39(1)
- Weatherhead EK, El Chami D, Knox JW & Daccache A. (2015). The economics of irrigating wheat in a humid climate - A study in the East of England. Agricultural Systems, 133
- Weatherhead K, Knox J, Hess T & Daccache A. (2015). Exploring Irrigation Futures. Outlook on Agriculture, 44(2)
- Perez Ortola M & Knox JW. (2014). Water relations and irrigation requirements of onion (Allium Cepa L.): a review of yield and quality impacts. Experimental Agriculture, 51(2)
- Daccache A, Ciurana JS, Rodriguez Diaz JA & Knox JW. (2014). Water and energy footprint of irrigated agriculture in the Mediterranean region. Environmental Research Letters, 9(12)
- Pérez-Ortolá M, Daccache A, Hess T & Knox JW. (2014). Simulating impacts of irrigation heterogeneity on onion (Allium cepa L.) yield in a humid climate. Irrigation Science, 33(1)
- Daccache A, Sataya W & Knox JW. (2014). Climate change impacts on rain-fed and irrigated rice yield in Malawi. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 13(2)
- Daccache A, Knox JW, Weatherhead EK, Daneshkhah A & Hess T. (2014). Implementing precision irrigation in a humid climate - Recent experiences and on-going challenges. Agricultural Water Management, 147
- Ingram JSI, Wright HL, Foster L, Aldred T, Barling D, .... (2013). Priority research questions for the UK food system. Food Security, 5(5)
- Monaghan JM, Daccache A, Vickers LH, Hess TM, Weatherhead EK, .... (2013). More ‘crop per drop’: constraints and opportunities for precision irrigation in European agriculture. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 93(5)
- Hess TM & Knox JW. (2013). Water savings in irrigated agriculture - a framework for assessing technology and management options to reduce water losses. Outlook on Agriculture, 42(2)
- DACCACHE A, KEAY C, JONES RJA, WEATHERHEAD EK, STALHAM MA, .... (2012). Climate change and land suitability for potato production in England and Wales: impacts and adaptation. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 150(2)
- Strandberg M, Blombäck K, Dahl Jensen AM & Knox JW. (2012). Priorities for sustainable turfgrass management: a research and industry perspective. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science, 62(sup1)
- Knox JW & Wade S. (2012). Assessing climate risks to UK agriculture. Nature Climate Change, 2(6)
- Knox J, Hess T, Daccache A & Wheeler T. (2012). Climate change impacts on crop productivity in Africa and South Asia. Environmental Research Letters, 7(3)
- Knox JW, Kay MG & Weatherhead EK. (2012). Water regulation, crop production, and agricultural water management—Understanding farmer perspectives on irrigation efficiency. Agricultural Water Management, 108
- Knox J. (2012). Editorial. Outlook on Agriculture, 41(1)
- Thenkabail PS, Knox JW, Ozdogan M, Gumma MK, Congalton RG, .... (2012). Assessing future risks to agricultural productivity, water resources and food security: How can remote sensing help?. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 78(8)
- Knox JW, Rodriguez-Diaz JA & Hess TM. (2011). Estimating Evapotranspiration by Using Atmometers for Irrigation Scheduling in a Humid Environment. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 137(11)
- Chung S, Rodríguez‐Díaz JA, Weatherhead EK & Knox JW. (2011). Climate change impacts on water for irrigating paddy rice in South Korea. Irrigation and Drainage, 60(2)
- Knox JW, Tyrrel SF, Daccache A & Weatherhead EK. (2011). A geospatial approach to assessing microbiological water quality risks associated with irrigation abstraction. Water and Environment Journal, 25(2)
- CARR MKV & KNOX JW. (2011). THE WATER RELATIONS AND IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUGAR CANE (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM): A REVIEW. Experimental Agriculture, 47(1)
- Rodríguez‐Díaz JA, Weatherhead EK, García Morillo J & Knox JW. (2011). BENCHMARKING IRRIGATION WATER USE IN GOLF COURSES – A CASE STUDY IN SPAIN. Irrigation and Drainage, 60(3)
- Daccache A, Weatherhead EK, Stalham MA & Knox JW. (2011). Impacts of climate change on irrigated potato production in a humid climate. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 151(12)
- CARR MKV. (2011). THE WATER RELATIONS AND IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS OF COCONUT (Cocos nucifera): A REVIEW. Experimental Agriculture, 47(1)
- Knox JW, Rodríguez Díaz JA, Nixon DJ & Mkhwanazi M. (2010). A preliminary assessment of climate change impacts on sugarcane in Swaziland. Agricultural Systems, 103(2)
- Knox J & Kay M. (2010). Introduction. Outlook on Agriculture, 39(4)
- Knox J, Morris J & Hess T. (2010). Identifying Future Risks to UK Agricultural Crop Production. Outlook on Agriculture, 39(4)
- Knox JW, Rodriguez-Diaz JA, Weatherhead EK & Kay MG. (2010). Development of a water-use strategy for horticulture in England and Wales – a case study. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 85(2)
- Reynolds C, Crompton L & Mills J. (2010). Livestock and Climate Change Impacts in the Developing World. Outlook on Agriculture, 39(4)
- Knox J, Weatherhead K, Díaz JR & Kay M. (2009). Developing a Strategy to Improve Irrigation Efficiency in a Temperate Climate. Outlook on Agriculture, 38(4)
- Leathes W, Knox JW, Kay MG, Trawick P & Rodriguez‐Diaz JA. (2008). Developing UK farmers' institutional capacity to defend their water rights and effectively manage limited water resources. Irrigation and Drainage, 57(3)
- Diaz JAR, Knox JW & Weatherhead EK. (2007). Competing demands for irrigation water: golf and agriculture in Spain. Irrigation and Drainage, 56(5)
- Rodríguez Díaz JA, Weatherhead EK, Knox JW & Camacho E. (2007). Climate change impacts on irrigation water requirements in the Guadalquivir river basin in Spain. Regional Environmental Change, 7(3)
- Knox JW, Weatherhead K & Ioris AAR. (2007). Assessing Water Requirements for Irrigated Agriculture in Scotland. Water International, 32(1)
- De Silva CS, Weatherhead EK, Knox JW & Rodriguez-Diaz JA. (2007). Predicting the impacts of climate change—A case study of paddy irrigation water requirements in Sri Lanka. Agricultural Water Management, 93(1-2)
- Tyrrel SF, Knox JW & Weatherhead EK. (2006). Microbiological Water Quality Requirements for Salad Irrigation in the United Kingdom. Journal of Food Protection, 69(8)
- Knox JW & Weatherhead EK. (2005). The growth of trickle irrigation in England and Wales: data, regulation and water resource impacts. Irrigation and Drainage, 54(2)
- Knox JW, Morris J, Weatherhead EK & Turner AP. (2000). Mapping the financial benefits of sprinkler irrigation and potential financial impact of restrictions on abstraction: A case-study in Anglian Region. Journal of Environmental Management, 58(1)
- Knox JW, Matthews RB & Wassmann R. (2000). Using a crop/soil simulation model and GIS techniques to assess methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. III. Databases. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 58(1/3)
- Matthews RB, Wassmann R, Buendia LV & Knox JW. (2000). Using a crop/soil simulation model and GIS techniques to assess methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. II. Model validation and sensitivity analysis. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 58(1/3)
- Weatherhead EK & Knox JW. (2000). Predicting and mapping the future demand for irrigation water in England and Wales. Agricultural Water Management, 43(2)
- Matthews RB, Wassmann R, Knox JW & Buendia LV. (2000). Using a crop/soil simulation model and GIS techniques to assess methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. IV. Upscaling to national levels. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 58(1/3)
- Knox JW & Weatherfield EK. (1999). The Application of GIS to Irrigation Water Resource Management in England and Wales. The Geographical Journal, 165(1)
- Knox JW, Weatherhead EK & Bradley RI. (1997). Mapping the total volumetric irrigation water requirements in England and Wales. Agricultural Water Management, 33(1)
- Knox JW, Weatherhead EK & Bradley RI. (1996). Mapping the spatial distribution of volumetric irrigation water requirements for maincrop potatoes in England and Wales. Agricultural Water Management, 31(1-2)
- Fenech S, Knox J, Borg M, Camilleri C & Rizzo A. Estimating Impacts of Land Use Change on Evapotranspiration for Three Agricultural Crops in Malta—A Preliminary Assessment. Journal of Agricultural Science, 11(3)
- Rodríguez Díaz JA, Knox JW & Weatherhead EK. Uso del indicador agroclimático PSMD para la representación y evaluación del impacto del cambio climático en las necesidades de agua de riego en España. Ingeniería del agua, 13(4)
