Mark Young

Plant Scientist/Information Technologist
Ecological Sciences
E: mark.young@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Current technical activities
  • Database development, administration and management in EU projects ECONUTRI, FRAMEwork, Radiant, TRUE, TOMRES, AMIGA, PURE, Legume Futures, SIGMEA and experimental data for the Agroecology Sub-group.
  • Web page development, administration and management; web frontends for databases for EU projects and Agroecology.
  • Programming and development of bespoke software solutions for Agroecology.
  • Development of DEXi multi attribute decision support models.
  • Development of a compartment and flow model in Simile to simulate the flow of nitrogen and carbon through arable and hill farming systems.
  • Development and maintenance of physiological measurement equipment and data loggers.
  • Provide expertise, training and support in GPS and GIS to Agroecology.

Research

  • Examination of machine learning and datamining techniques for data analyses.
  • Development of DEXi multi attribute decision support models for the Centre for Sustainable Cropping.
  • Development of a compartment and flow model (using to simulate the flow of nitrogen and carbon through arable and hill farming systems.
  • Examination of nitrogen budgets within crop systems incorporating legumes.

Past research

  • Monotoring of greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Centre for Sustainable Cropping at Balruddery.
  • Geneflow as part of the SIGMEA project with various European Partners.
  • Ecotyping of barley and Capsella bursa-pastoris.
  • GIS analyses of European datasets in collaboration with workers from the Josef Stafan Institute, Slovenia.
  • Geneflow between Brassica napus and Brassica rapa.
  • Image analysis of graded potatoes.
  • A predictive model of potato tuber size distribution and procedures to optimise its operation.
  • Optimisation of nitrogen and water use in the potato crop.
  • An investigation of the factors associated with different patterns of reducing sugar accumulation in stored potato tubers.

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Marshall, B.; Young, M.W. (2004) Automated on-farm assessment of tuber size distribution., In: Decision Support Systems in Potato Production – bringing models to practice (eds. D.K.L. MacKerron and A.J. Haverkort). Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp100-117.

Technical / contract reports

  • Squire, G.R.; Begg, G.S.; Hawes, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; James, E.K.; Karley, A.J.; Young, M.W. (2011) Scotland’s wild arable plants., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2010, pp21-23.
  • Squire, G.R.; Allnutt, T.; Boffey, C.W.H.; Cullen, D.W.; Daniels, R.E.; Ford, L.; Henry, M.; Jacobs, J.H.; Knightley, S.; Kilpatrick, J.B.; Lutman, P.J.; McNicol, J.W.; Osborne, J.L.; Ramsay, G.; Scrimgeour, C.; Shearan, A.; Swain, J.L.; Sweet, J.B.; Young, M. (2008) Factors affecting cross pollination of oilseed rape growing under UK conditions., RGO125 Final Report to Defra and RERAD, London.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Begg, G.S.; Wishart, J.; Young, M.W.; Karley, A.J.; Valentine, T.A.; Hawes, C.; Squire, G.R. (2006) Common wild plants as biodiversity indicators., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp42-43.
  • Squire, G.R.; Hawes, C.; Bohan, D.A.; Brooks, D.R.; Champion, G.T.; Firbank, L.G.; Haughton, A.J.; Heard, M.S.; May, M.J.; Perry, J.N.; Young, M.W. (2005) Biodiversity effects of the management associated with GM cropping systems in the UK., Final Report of Defra Project EPG 1/5/198, London.
  • Squire, G.R.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G.S.; Elliott, M.J.; Parish, A.M.; Young, M.W.; Iannetta, P.P.M. (2004) Persistence of GM herbicide-tolerant plants., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp167-168.
  • Karley, A.J.; Marshall, B.; Young, M.W.; Holroyde, S.; Wright, G.M.; Squire, G.R. (2004) Plant archtecture and structural-functioning modelling., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp157-159.
  • Ritz, K.; Crabb, D.; Harris, K.; Nunan, N.; Wu, K.; Crawford, J.W.; Young, I.M. (2000) Visualising the spatial organisation of soil microbial communities., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1999/2000, 163-166.

Conference papers

  • Karley, A.J.; Mitchell, C.; Hawes, C.; Young, M.W.; Brooker, R.W.; Pakeman, R.J.; Iannetta, P.P.M.I.; Newton, A.C. (2020) Crop species mixtures as part of integrated farm management., Proceedings, The Dundee Conference: Crop Production Northern Britain, Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee, 25-26 February 2020, pp143-147.
  • Karley, A.J.; Mitchell, C.; Hawes, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Banks, G.; Ford, L.; Young, M.; Quesada, N.; Begg, G. (2017) Aphid infestations and biocontrol in cereal crops in Scotland: effects of winter cropping across three regions., 7th Meeting of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group Landscape Management for Functional Biodiversity in Conjunction with a British Ecological Society Agricultural Ecology Special Interest Group Meeting, Dundee, 29-31 March 2017. Landscape management for functional biodiversity IOBC-WPRS Bulletin, 122, 90-93.
  • James, E.K.; Lopez del Egido, L.; Maluk, M.; Young, M.; Hawes, C.; Squire, G.R.; Iannetta, P.P.M. (2016) Nitrogen fixation by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in a 4 year crop rotation in East Scotland., 12th European Nitrogen Fixation Congress, Budapest, Hungary, 25-28 August 2016. (Conference paper, presentation and poster).
  • Valentine, T.A.; Bengough, A.G.; Dupuy, L.X.; Hallett, P.; Karley, A.J.; McKenzie, B.M.; Newton, A.; Schmidt, S.; Stobart, R.; Squire, G.; Young, M.; Hawes, C. (2015) Evaluating interactions at the plant:soil interface., UK-India Initiative in Agroecology, Centre for Pollination Studies, Calcutta University, Kolkata, India, 21-23 February 2015.
  • Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Binnie, K.; Downie, H.; Schmidt, S.; Otten, W.; Dupuy, L.X.; Hawes, C.; Young, M.; Squire, G.; Bengough, A.G. (2014) Visualization and quantification of root responses to soil strength and pore structure., Plant Biology Europe FESPB/EPSO Congress 2014, Dublin, 22-26 June 2014.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Begg, G.; James, E.K.; Smith, B.; Davies, C.; Karley, A.J.; Lopez del Egido, L.; Hawes, C.; Young, M.; Ramsay, G.; Birch, A.N.E.; Valentine, T.A.; Warburton-Brown, C.; Goldring, A.; Hughes, T.; Sprent, J.; Wolfe, M.; Rees, R.M. (2013) Sustainable intensification: a pivotal role for legume supported cropped systems., AAB/BeS-AeG Rethinking Farmed Systems in the UK, St. Catherine’s College University of Oxford, 18-19 December 2013. Co-organiser/Invited speaker. Aspects Applied Biology 121, 73-82.
  • James, E.K.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Doherty, S.; Young, M.W.; Hawes, C.; Squire, G.R.; (2012) Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by faba bean at the Centre for Sustainable Cropping (CSC), Dundee, Scotland., 10th European Nitrogen Fixation Conference. Munich, 2-5 September 2012.
  • Begg, G.S.; Hawes, C.; Birch, A.N.E.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Squire, G.R.; Young, M.W. (2011) Managing landscape cropping patterns in support of arable biodiversity., Association of Applied Biologists – Agricultural Ecology Research: It’s Role in Delivering Sustainable Farm Systems, Dundee, 15-16 June 2011 (Talk).
  • Karley, A.J.; Hawes, C.; Valentine, T.A.; Johnson, S.N.; Toorop, P.E.; Squire, G.R.; Young, M.W.; Iannetta, P.P.M. (2011) Can arable weeds contribute to ecosystem service provision? Functional diversity in shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris L. Medik.)., Aspects of Applied Biology, Agricultural Ecology Research: Its role in delivering sustainable farm systems, Dundee, 15-16 June 2011, 109, pp31-38.
  • Young, M.W.; Hawes, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; James, E.K.; Karley, A.J.; Squire, G.R. (2011) Increasing the sustainability of arable yield and reducing the dependence on chemical N fertilisers., Aspects of Applied Biology, Agricultural Ecology Research: Its role in delivering sustainable farm systems, Dundee, 15-16 June 2011, 109, pp81-86.
  • Karley, A.J.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Valentine, T.A.; Bingham, I.J.; Hoad, S.; Young, M.W.; Squire, G.R. (2010) Impact of plant traits on nitrogen-efficiency and compartmentation in arable systems., Association of Applied Biologists – Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Plants and Crops, Olde Barn Hotel, Marston, Lincs, UK 15-16 December 2010. Aspects of Applied Biology, 105, 89-96.
  • Begg, G.S.; Birch, A.N.E.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Young, M.W.; Squire, G.R. (2010) Engineering arable landscapes to balance the pros and cons of weeds., IOBC/wprs Working Group Meeting – Landscape Management for Functional Biodiversity, Cambridge, 22 June – 1 July 2010.
  • Banks, G.; Young, M.W.; Squire, G.R. (2010) Demography of feral oilseed rape over 11 years in an agricultural region., 2nd International Conference on Implications of GM-Crop Cultivation at Large Spatial Scales, Bremen, Germany, 25-26 March 2010.
  • Hawes, C.; McRoberts, N.; Squire, G.R.; Walker, R.L.; Watson, C.A.; Young, M.W. (2008) Costing the ecological-economic trade-off for resilient arable production., Proceedings Crop Production in Northern Britain 2008. Dundee, 26-27 February 2008, 27-32.
  • Squire, G.R.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G.S.; Karley, A.J.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Young, M.W. (2008) Cumulative impacts of GM herbicide-tolerant cropping on arable plants assessed through species-based and functional taxonomies., Theorie in der Ekologie 14, Bremen, Germany, 2-4 April 2008.
  • Karley, A.J.; Binnie, K.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Valentine, T.A.; Wright, G.M.; Young, M.W. (2008) Crop traits for crop-weed coexistence in reduced input arable systems., British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2008, Imperial College, London, 3-5 September 2008.
  • Begg, G.S.; Elliott, M.J.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Cullen, D.W.; Young, M.W.; Squire, G.R. (2007) Localised heterogeneity, gene flow and the persistence of transgenes from genetically modified oilseed rape., 3rd International Conference on Coexistence Between Genetically Modified (GM) and Non-GM based Agricultural Supply Chains, Seville, Spain, 20-21 November 2007, pp101-104.
  • Wishart, J.; Begg, G.S.; Young, M.W.; Hackett, C.A.; Squire, G.R.; Iannetta, P.P.M. (2007) Molecular biology and ecology of flowering-time variants of Capsella., British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Glasgow, 10-12 September 2007.
  • Squire, G.R.; Young, M.W.; Brown, L.; Dawson, G.; Sausse, C. (2006) Coexistence: The value of a Scottish study area within a European coordinated programme., Proceedings of Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 28 February – 1 March 2006, pp45-50.
  • Begg, G.S.; Young, M.W.; Hawes, C.; Squire, G.R. (2005) Persistence and potential impact of a GMHT trait in oilseed rape., GMOs: Ecologial Dimensions, 73, 211-218.
  • Begg, G.S.; Young, M.W.; Hawes, C.; McNicol, J.W.; Squire, G.R. (2003) Modelling feral (volunteer) oilseed rape in relation to thresholds of impurity., Proceedings of the 1st European Conference on the Co-existence of Genetically Modified Crops with conventional Organic Crops, Denmark, 13-14 November 2003, pp169-171.
  • Marshall, B.; Young, M.W. (2003) Automated on-farm assessment of tuber size distribution., EAPR, Third International Potato Modelling Workshop, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, 3-5 March 2003.
  • Young, M.W.; Jones, H.G. (2002) An investigation of factors affecting yield of red raspberry (Rubus) in Tayside., Acta Horticulturae, 585, 683-687.
  • Begg, G.S.; Hawes, C.; Marshall, B.; D’Hertefeldt, T.; Ramsay, G.; Young, M.W.; Squire, G.R.; Wright, G.M. (2002) Dispersal and persistence of feral oilseed rape – mechanisms and consequences., ESF Working Group Meeting: Estimating and Managing Geneflow and Dispersal in GM Crops, Lille, France, 2-3 July 2002.
  • Squire, G.R.; Begg, B.; Young, M.W. (2002) Persistence and effect of GM and non-GM feral OSR as arable seedbank and wayside plants., AAB Meeting, Reading, 9-11 September 2002.
  • Maule, M.M.; Young, M.W.; Wright, G.M.; Squire, G.R. (2001) Studying plant architecture using image analysis., Proceedings of the SAC Workshop. Crianlarich, 9-10 October 2001.
  • MacKerron, D.K.L.; Young, M.W. (2000) Variation in indicated nitrogen nutrification in a potato crop., Abstracts of the Xth International Colloquium for the Optimization of Plant Nutrition, Plant Nutrition for the Next Millennium. Cairo, 8-13 April 2000.
  • McGovern, H.; Hallett, P.D.; Ritz, K.; Griffiths, B.S.; O’Sullivan, M.F.; Young, I.M. (1999) Structural generation and active fungi in direct drilled and ploughed soil., Sustainable Management of Soil Organic Matter, Edinburgh, September 1999.
  • McGovern, H.; Hallett, P.D.; Ritz, K.; Griffiths, B.S.; O’Sullivan, M.F.; Young, I.M. (1999) Structural generation and active fungi in direct drilled and ploughed soil., Soil Ecology Society International Conference, Chicago, USA, May 1999.
  • McGovern, H.; Hallett, P.D.; Ritz, K.; Griffiths, B.S.; O’Sullivan, M.F.; Young, I.M. (1999) Structural generation and active fungi in direct drilled and ploughed soil., Soil Structure Carbon Workshop, Leamington, Canada, 23-25 August 1999.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Squire, G.R.; Quesada, N.; Young, M.W.; Messear, A.; Demade, M.; Chueca, C.; Mullins, E. (2016) Tools and methodologies for upscaling data from GM trials to regional landscapes., EU Research in Support of Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Plants in Europe: The contribution of AMIGA project – AMIGA Final Event, Fondation Universitaire, Brussels, 10-11 May 2016.
  • Squire, G.R.; Young, M.W.; Banks, G.; Ford, L.; Quesada Pizarro N.; Begg, G.S.; Hawes, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Karley, A.J. (2016) Deintensify or die?, SRUC-SEPA Conference, What Future for our Farming Systems? Environmental Challenges and Integrated Solutions. Agriculture and the Environment XI, Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh 1-2 March 2016.
  • Karley, A.J.; Preedy, K.; Young, M.; Banks G.; Ford, L.; Squire, G. (2016) The contribution of weeds to biodiversity and nitrogen dynamics in lowland arable systems., SRUC-SEPA Conference, What Future for our Farming Systems? Environmental Challenges and Integrated Solutions. Agriculture and the Environment XI, Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh 1-2 March 2016.
  • Valentine, T.A.; Hallett, P.D.; Binnie, K.; Young, M.W.; Squire, G.R.; Hawes, C.; Bengough, A.G. (2014) Soil strength and pore structure interact to influence root elongation in many agricultural soils., Society of Experimental Biology (SEB) Annual Main Meeting, University of Manchester, 1-4 July 2014. (Poster)
  • Young, M.W.; Begg, G.S.; Hawes, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Karley, A.J.; Squire, G.R. (2012) Modelling the utility of legumes: increasing the sustainability of arable yield and reducing the dependence on inorganic nitrogenous fertilisers., 2nd Annual Meeting of Legume Futures, University of Athens, 26-30 March 2012 (Poster).
  • James, E.K.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Doherty, S.; Young, M.W.; Hawes, C.; Karley, A.J.; Squire, G.R.; (2012) Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by faba bean at the Centre for Sustainable Cropping, Dundee, Scotland., 2nd Annual Meeting of Legume Futures, University of Athens, 26-30 March 2012 (Poster).
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Young, M.W.; Begg, G.S.; Hawes, C.; Karley, A.J.; Squire, G.R. (2012) Modelling the utility of legumes: increasing the sustainability of arable yield and reducing the dependence on inorganic nitrogenous fertilisers., 12th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy, Helsinki, Finland, 20-24 August 2012 (Poster).
  • Squire, G.R.; Begg, G.S.; Hawes, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Young, M.W. (2009) Ecological properties of weed communities., XIII Colloque International sur la Biologie des Mauvaises Herbes, Dijon, France, 8-10 September 2009, 85.
  • Valentine, T.A.; Karley, A.J.; Binnie, K.; Post, J.; Young, M.W.; Wright, G.M.; Marshall, B.; Hallett, P.D.; McKenzie, B.M.; Bengough, A.G. (2006) Plant growth responses to soil physical constraints., ESF – Wellcome Trust Conference, Cambridge, 8-11 November 2006. (Poster)
  • MacKerron, D.K.L.; Young, M.W. (1999) The effects of nitrogen nutrition on tuber dry matter concentration., Abstracts 14th EAPR Triennial Conference, Sorrento, Italy, 128-129.
  • MacKerron, D.K.L.; Marshall, B.; McNicol, J.W.; Turley, D.; Wiltshire, J.J.J.; Young, M.W. (1999) The development of an improved screening method to characterize new cultivars for tuber size distribution., Abstracts of the 14th Triennial Conference of the European Association for Potato Research, Sorrento, Italy, 2-7 May 1999.