Yusheng Zhang

Name	Yusheng Zhang
Job title	Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Environmental Scientist
Email address	yusheng.zhang@rothamsted.ac.uk
Department	Net Zero and Resilient Farming
Research cluster	SAS-NW: Environment Systems and Modelling
ORCID	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7899-6560
Preferred citation	Zhang, Y.
Office	North Wyke

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Research outputs

Fingerprinting using compound-specific δ13C of n-alkanes reveals the temporary role of paddy fields as a secondary source for watershed sediment loss

Tang, Q., Chen, F., Zhu, G., He, X., Wei, J., Zhang, Y., Upadhayay, H., Joynes, A. and Collins, A. L. 2025. Fingerprinting using compound-specific δ13C of n-alkanes reveals the temporary role of paddy fields as a secondary source for watershed sediment loss. International Soil and Water Conservation Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.07.005

Agricultural land lacks resistance to water erosion during the wettest winters of the past decade

Collins, A. L., Upadhayay, H., Zhang, Y., Olde, L. and Sint, H. M. 2025. Agricultural land lacks resistance to water erosion during the wettest winters of the past decade. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 389 (1 Sept), p. 109713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.109713

Global Warming Potential of farming systems across England: possible mitigation and co-benefits for water quality and biodiversity

Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2025. Global Warming Potential of farming systems across England: possible mitigation and co-benefits for water quality and biodiversity. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 45, p. 22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-025-01015-4

Derived datasets of daily weather, near surface soil status, flow rates and concentrations of nitrogen species from the North Wyke Farm Platform, England

Zhang, Y., Hawkins, J. M. B., Sint, H. M. and Collins, A. L. 2025. Derived datasets of daily weather, near surface soil status, flow rates and concentrations of nitrogen species from the North Wyke Farm Platform, England. Data in Brief. 59 (22 January), p. 111324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2025.111324

Processed high resolution rainfall, flow rate, sediment and nitrate concentration data

Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2024. Processed high resolution rainfall, flow rate, sediment and nitrate concentration data. Rothamsted Research. https://doi.org/10.23637/rothamsted.99117

Simulation dataset of annual crop growth, GHG emission and SOC stock dynamics under current and projected climate conditions for major crops with current and reduced fertiliser inputs in Southwest, England

Zhang, Y., Wu, L., Jebari, A. and Collins, A. L. 2024. Simulation dataset of annual crop growth, GHG emission and SOC stock dynamics under current and projected climate conditions for major crops with current and reduced fertiliser inputs in Southwest, England. Data in Brief. 55 (August), p. 110574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2024.110574

Impacts of reduced synthetic fertiliser use under current and future climates Exploration using integrated agroecosystem modelling in the upper River Taw observatory, UK

Zhang, Y., Wu, L., Jebari, A. and Collins, A. L. 2024. Impacts of reduced synthetic fertiliser use under current and future climates Exploration using integrated agroecosystem modelling in the upper River Taw observatory, UK. Journal of Environmental Management. 351, p. 119732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119732

Optimisation of Cereal Farm Strategies for Mitigating Externalities Associated with Intensive Production

Collins, A. L. and Zhang, Y. 2022. Optimisation of Cereal Farm Strategies for Mitigating Externalities Associated with Intensive Production. Water. 15 (1), p. 169. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010169

A reconnaissance survey of channel bank particulate phosphorus concentrations, controls and estimated contributions to riverine loads across England

Pulley, S., Zhang, Y., Copeland-Phillips, R., Vadher, A. N., Foster, I. D. L, Boardman, J. and Collins, A. L. 2022. A reconnaissance survey of channel bank particulate phosphorus concentrations, controls and estimated contributions to riverine loads across England. Hydrological Processes. 35 (12), p. e14785. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14785

Impacts of different vegetation in riparian buffer strips on runoff and sediment loss

Dunn, R. M., Hawkins, J. M. B., Blackwell, M. S. A., Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2022. Impacts of different vegetation in riparian buffer strips on runoff and sediment loss. Hydrological Processes. 36 (11), p. e14733. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14733

Data, and sample sources thereof, on water quality life cycle impact assessments pertaining to catchment scale acidification and eutrophication potentials and the benefits of on-farm mitigation strategies

McAuliffe, G.A., Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2022. Data, and sample sources thereof, on water quality life cycle impact assessments pertaining to catchment scale acidification and eutrophication potentials and the benefits of on-farm mitigation strategies. Data in Brief. 44, p. 108505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108505

Separating natural from human enhanced methane emissions in headwater streams

Zhu, Y., Iwan Jones, J., Collins, A. L., Zhang, Y., Olde, L., Rovelli, L., Murphy, J. F., Heppell, C. M. and Trimmer, M. 2022. Separating natural from human enhanced methane emissions in headwater streams. Nature Communications. 13, p. 3810. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31559-y

Assessing catchment scale water quality of agri-food systems and the scope for reducing unintended consequences using spatial life cycle assessment (LCA)

McAuliffe, G. A., Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2022. Assessing catchment scale water quality of agri-food systems and the scope for reducing unintended consequences using spatial life cycle assessment (LCA). Journal of Environmental Management. 318 (15 Sept), p. 115563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115563

Monitored flow and water quality data from upper river taw observatory in 2018 and 2019 water years

Granger, S. J., Zhang, Y., Sint, H. M. and Collins, A. L. 2022. Monitored flow and water quality data from upper river taw observatory in 2018 and 2019 water years. Rothamsted Research. https://doi.org/10.23637/rothamsted.9882v

Prolonged heavy rainfall and land use drive catchment sediment source dynamics: appraisal using multiple biotracers

Upadhayay, H. R., Zhang, Y., Granger, S. J., Micale, M. and Collins, A. L. 2022. Prolonged heavy rainfall and land use drive catchment sediment source dynamics: appraisal using multiple biotracers. Water Research. 216, p. 118348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118348

Exploring the effects of land management change on productivity, carbon and nutrient balance: Application of an Ensemble Modelling Approach to the upper River Taw observatory, UK

Hassall, K. L., Coleman, K., Dixit, P., Granger, S. J., Zhang, Y., Sharp, R., Wu, L., Whitmore, A. P., Richter, G. M., Collins, A. L. and Milne, A. E. 2022. Exploring the effects of land management change on productivity, carbon and nutrient balance: Application of an Ensemble Modelling Approach to the upper River Taw observatory, UK. Science of the Total Environment. 824, p. 153824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153824

Diffuse water pollution during recent extreme wet-weather in the UK: Environmental damage costs and insight into the future?

Zhang, Y., Granger, S. J., Semenov, M. A., Upadhayay, H. and Collins, A. L. 2022. Diffuse water pollution during recent extreme wet-weather in the UK: Environmental damage costs and insight into the future? Journal of Cleaner Production. 338, p. 130633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130633

Tackling unintended consequences of grazing livestock farming: Multi-scale assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs for water pollution mitigation scenarios

Zhang, Y., Griffith, B. A., Granger, S. J., Sint, H. M. and Collins, A. L. 2022. Tackling unintended consequences of grazing livestock farming: Multi-scale assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs for water pollution mitigation scenarios. Journal of Cleaner Production. 336 (15 Feb), p. 130449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130449

Insights into bulk stable isotope alteration during sediment redistribution to edge-of-field: impact on sediment source apportionment

Upadhayay, H. R., Granger, S. J., Zhang, Y., Amorim, F., Cilione, L., Micale, M. and Collins, A. L. 2021. Insights into bulk stable isotope alteration during sediment redistribution to edge-of-field: impact on sediment source apportionment. Biogeochemistry. 155, pp. 263-281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-021-00825-4

Attribution of runoff changes in the main tributaries of the middle Yellow River, China, based on the Budyko model with a time-varying parameter

Li, H., Shi, C, Sun, P, Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2021. Attribution of runoff changes in the main tributaries of the middle Yellow River, China, based on the Budyko model with a time-varying parameter. Catena. 206 (105557). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105557

Late Quaternary evolution of a lowland anastomosing river system: Geological-topographic inheritance, non-uniformity and implications for biodiversity and management

Brown, A. G., Rhodes, E. J., Davis, S., Zhang, Y., Pears, B., Whitehouse, N. J., Bradley, C., Bennett, J., Schwenninger, J-L., Firth, A., Firth, E., Hughes, P. and Walling, D. 2021. Late Quaternary evolution of a lowland anastomosing river system: Geological-topographic inheritance, non-uniformity and implications for biodiversity and management. Quaternary Science Reviews. 260, p. 106929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.106929

Deposition and erosion behaviour of cohesive sediments in the upper River Taw observatory, southwest UK: Implications for management and modelling

Stone, M, Krishnappan, B. G., Granger, S. J., Upadhayay, H., Zhang, Y., Chivers, C., Decent, Q. and Collins, A. L. 2021. Deposition and erosion behaviour of cohesive sediments in the upper River Taw observatory, southwest UK: Implications for management and modelling. Journal of Hydrology. 598 (126145). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126145

Sediment source apportionment using optical property composite signatures in a rural catchment, Brazil

Amorim, F. F., Da Silva, Y. J. A. B., Nascimento, R. C., Tiecher, T., Do Nascimento, C. W. A., Minella, J. P. G., Zhang, Y., Upadhayay, H., Pulley, S. and Collins, A. L. 2021. Sediment source apportionment using optical property composite signatures in a rural catchment, Brazil. Catena. 202 (article), p. 105208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105208

Baseline and business-as-usual (BAU) agricultural footprints for major farm types across England

Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2021. Baseline and business-as-usual (BAU) agricultural footprints for major farm types across England. Rothamsted Research. https://doi.org/10.23637/rothamsted.98497

Current advisory interventions for grazing ruminant farming cannot close exceedance of modern background sediment loss – Assessment using an instrumented farm platform and modelled scaling out

Collins, A. L., Zhang, Y., Upadhayay, H., Pulley, S., Granger, S. J., Harris, P., Sint, H. M. and Griffith, B. A. 2021. Current advisory interventions for grazing ruminant farming cannot close exceedance of modern background sediment loss – Assessment using an instrumented farm platform and modelled scaling out. Environmental Science & Policy. 116 (2021), pp. 114-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.11.004

Sediment source fingerprinting: benchmarking recent outputs, remaining challenges and emerging themes

Collins, A. L., Blackwell, M. S. A., Boeckx, P., Chivers, C-A., Emelko, M., Evrad, O., Foster, I., Gellis, A., Gholami, H., Granger, S. J., Harris, P., Horowitz, A. J., Laceby, J. P., Martinez-Carreras, N., Minella, J., Mol, L., Nosrati, K., Pulley, S., Silins, U., Da Silva, Y. J., Stone, M., Tiecher, T., Upadhayay, H. and Zhang, Y. 2020. Sediment source fingerprinting: benchmarking recent outputs, remaining challenges and emerging themes. Journal of Soils and Sediments. 20, pp. 4160-4193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02755-4

Sediment sources, soil loss rates and sediment yields in a Karst plateau catchment in Southwest China

Cheng, Q., Wang, S., Peng, T., Cao, L., Zhang, X., Buckerfield, S. J., Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2020. Sediment sources, soil loss rates and sediment yields in a Karst plateau catchment in Southwest China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 304, p. 107114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107114

Experimental Investigation of Erosion Characteristics of Fine-Grained Cohesive Sediments

Krishnappan, B. G., Stone, M., Granger, S. J., Upadhayay, H. R., Tang, Q., Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2020. Experimental Investigation of Erosion Characteristics of Fine-Grained Cohesive Sediments. Water. 12 (5), p. 1511. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051511

Using the Budyko hypothesis for detecting and attributing changes in runoff to climate and vegetation change in the soft sandstone area of the middle Yellow River basin, China

Li, H., Shi, C., Zhang, Y., Ning, T., Sun, P., Liu, X., Ma, X., Liu, W. and Collins, A. L. 2020. Using the Budyko hypothesis for detecting and attributing changes in runoff to climate and vegetation change in the soft sandstone area of the middle Yellow River basin, China . Science of the Total Environment. 703, p. 135588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135588

Comparing grain size composition of inter-rill and rill-eroded sediment from cultivated hillslope soils using caesium-134 and cobalt-60 as tracers

Greenwood, P. and Zhang, Y. 2020. Comparing grain size composition of inter-rill and rill-eroded sediment from cultivated hillslope soils using caesium-134 and cobalt-60 as tracers. Soil & Tillage Research. 198, p. 104532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.104532

A palaeoenvironmental study of particle size‐specific connectivity—New insights and implications from the West Sussex Rother Catchment, United Kingdom

Foster, I. D. L., Biddulph, M., Boardman, J., Copeland-Phillips, R., Evans, J., Pulley, S., Zhang, Y. and Collins, A. L. 2019. A palaeoenvironmental study of particle size‐specific connectivity—New insights and implications from the West Sussex Rother Catchment, United Kingdom. River Research and Applications. 35 (8), pp. 1192-1202. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3477

A Generic Approach for Live prediction of the risk of agricultural field runoff and delivery to watercourses: linking parsimonious soil-water-connectivity models with live weather data APIs in decision tools

Comber, A., Collins, A. L., Haro-Monteagudo, D., Hess, T., Zhang, Y., Smith, A. and Turner, A. 2019. A Generic Approach for Live prediction of the risk of agricultural field runoff and delivery to watercourses: linking parsimonious soil-water-connectivity models with live weather data APIs in decision tools. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 3, p. Article 42. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00042

Long-term in-situ monitoring and modelling of water quality

Zhang, Y., Collins, A. L. and Murdoch, N. 2019. Long-term in-situ monitoring and modelling of water quality. in: Mellander, P-E., Leach, S. and Burgess, E. (ed.) Achieving quality water in diverse and productive agricultural landscapes under a changing climate Ireland Teagasc. pp. 23 - 23

Subsurface sources contribute substantially to fine‐grained suspended sediment transported in a tropical West African watershed in Burkina Faso

Rode, M., Op de Hipt, F., Collins, A. L., Zhang, Y., Theuring, P., Schkade, U-K. and Diekkruger, B. 2018. Subsurface sources contribute substantially to fine‐grained suspended sediment transported in a tropical West African watershed in Burkina Faso. Land Degradation & Development. 29 (11), pp. 4092-4105. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3165

Particle size differentiation explains flow regulation controls on sediment sorting in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Tang, Q., Collins, A. L., Wen, A., He, X., Bao, Y., Yan, D., Long, Y. and Zhang, Y. 2018. Particle size differentiation explains flow regulation controls on sediment sorting in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Science of the Total Environment. 633, pp. 1114-1125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.258

An analysis of potential controls on long-term 137Cs accumulation in the sediments of UK lakes

Pulley, S., Foster, I. D. L., Collins, A. L., Zhang, Y. and Evans, Jennine 2018. An analysis of potential controls on long-term 137Cs accumulation in the sediments of UK lakes. Journal Of Paleolimnology. 60, pp. 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-017-0016-6

Assessing the potential impacts of a revised set of on-farm nutrient and sediment "basic" control measures for reducing agricultural diffuse pollution across England

Collins, A. L., Newell Price, J. P., Zhang, Y., Gooday, R., Naden, P. S. and Skirvin, D. 2018. Assessing the potential impacts of a revised set of on-farm nutrient and sediment "basic" control measures for reducing agricultural diffuse pollution across England. Science of the Total Environment. 621, pp. 1499-1511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.078

Fingerprinting source contributions to bed sediment‐associated organic matter in the headwater subcatchments of the River Itchen SAC, Hampshire, UK

Collins, A. L., Zhang, Y., McMillan, S., Dixon, E. R., Cancer-Berroya, E., Poiret, C. and Stringellow, A. 2017. Fingerprinting source contributions to bed sediment‐associated organic matter in the headwater subcatchments of the River Itchen SAC, Hampshire, UK. River Research and Applications. 33 (10), pp. 1515-1526. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3172

Sediment‐associated organic matter sources and sediment oxygen demand in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC): A case study of the River Axe, UK

Collins, A. L., Zhang, Y., McMillan, S., Dixon, E. R., Stringfellow, A., Bateman, S. and Sear, D. A. 2017. Sediment‐associated organic matter sources and sediment oxygen demand in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC): A case study of the River Axe, UK. River Research and Applications. 33 (10), pp. 1539-1552. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3175

Tackling agricultural diffuse pollution: What might uptake of farmer-preferred measures deliver for emissions to water and air?

Collins, A. L., Zhang, Y., Winter, M., Inman, A., Jones, J. I., Johnes, P. J., Cleasby, W., Vrain, E., Lovett, A. and Noble, L. 2016. Tackling agricultural diffuse pollution: What might uptake of farmer-preferred measures deliver for emissions to water and air? Science of the Total Environment. 547 (15 March), pp. 269-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.130

Sources of sediment-bound organic matter infiltrating spawning gravels during the incubation and emergence life stages of salmonids

Collins, A. L., Williams, L. J., Zhang, Y., Marius, M., Dungait, J. A. J., Smallman, D. J., Dixon, E. R., Stringfellow, A., Sear, D. A., Jones, J. I. and Naden, P. S. 2014. Sources of sediment-bound organic matter infiltrating spawning gravels during the incubation and emergence life stages of salmonids. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 196 (15 October), pp. 76-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2014.06.018

The use of composite fingerprints to quantify sediment sources in a wildfire impacted landscape, Alberta, Canada

Stone, M., Collins, A. L., Silins, U., Emelko, M. B. and Zhang, Y. 2014. The use of composite fingerprints to quantify sediment sources in a wildfire impacted landscape, Alberta, Canada. Science of the Total Environment. 473-474 (1 March), pp. 642-650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.052

Catchment source contributions to the sediment-bound organic matter degrading salmonid spawning gravels in a lowland river, southern England

Collins, A. L., Williams, L. J., Zhang, Y., Marius, M., Dungait, J. A. J., Smallman, D. J., Dixon, E. R., Stringfellow, A., Sear, D. A., Jones, J. I. and Naden, P. S. 2013. Catchment source contributions to the sediment-bound organic matter degrading salmonid spawning gravels in a lowland river, southern England. Science of the Total Environment. 456-457 (1 July), pp. 181-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.093