Research Projects
Each year, IRDA's R&D Team conducts more than one hundred research projects in sustainable agriculture. What's more, IRDA is working with Quebec's key agricultural stakeholders to find concrete solutions.
The effects of crimper-rolled winter rye on striped cucumber beetle populations in spaghetti squash production
The effects of crimper-rolled winter rye on striped cucumber.
Researcher: Maxime Lefebvre
Mass trapping for flea beetle management in cruciferous crops on diversified organic farms
Trapping flea beetles in organic farming.
Researcher: Maxime Lefebvre
Population dynamic of Lepidopteran pests of sweet corn and recommendations for adapting control strategies
Population dynamic of Lepidopteran pests of sweet corn.
Researcher: Maxime Lefebvre
Evaluation of the agronomic performance of 10 broccoli varieties under commercial production
This project aims to limit the impacts of climate change on broccoli crops by evaluating and documenting the tolerance to climatic stress of 10 broccoli varieties intended for the fresh market.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Using seasonal tillage in combination with cover crops as a biological method to control cutworms in organic cruciferous crops
Evaluation of new practices to control cutworms in organic vegetable production.
Researchers: Annabelle Firlej Maxime Lefebvre
Assessing a weeding robot for use in organic market gardening
New, robotic weed control strategy for widespread use in field vegetables grown organically in Québec.
Researcher: Élise Smedbol
Including perennial fodder crops as “cut and carry” nitrogen sources in long-term rotations of organically grown potatoes and field crops
We will compare the ability of mixed protocols using blended green manure, with or without the addition of farm manure, to satisfy the nitrogen requirements of a silage corn rotation crop.
Researcher: Christine Landry
A comparative study of organic fertilizers with a high, effective nitrogen to total phosphorus ratio (Neff / Ptot) as a basis for developing productive and sustainable market gardening fertilization strategies
In this study, we will test alfalfa meal pellets in a broccoli crop planted on plastic-covered irrigated mounds and we will compare them with two organic fertilizer, in addition to a control treatment in which no nitrogen is added.
Researchers: Christine Landry Caroline Côté
Implementing a three-year sustainable forage crop rotation for potato and field crop farmers
This project seeks to create farmer partnerships in which participants work on implementing a three-year forage crop rotation protocol in potato and field crop fields.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
Projet for a Web app to facilitate the viewing and interpretation of potato soil health analyses
This project aims to develop an accessible and user-friendly web application that let stakeholders search the IRDA potato soil database, one of the largest in Canada, to visualize the impact of growing practices and protocols on the biological, physicochemical, and agronomic characteristics of soils cultivated with different cropping systems.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
Improving potato crop water-use efficiency by developing a deeper understanding of cultivars
The selection of a cultivar should be an essential element in any sound irrigation management strategy. This project aims to optimize water use in potato farming.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Improving potato crop water-use efficiency through cropping system modifications
Modifying the cropping system design is an effective way to improve potato crop water-use efficiency and, thereby, lessen the risk of crops experiencing water stress.
Researchers: Carl Boivin Luc Belzile
The solutions developed by IRDA aim to...
Ensure the sustainability
and quality of soil, water, and air
Protect the health and well-being
of local communities by improving the quality of crop and livestock production, with an emphasis on animal welfare
Safeguard the economic viability
of crop and livestock production