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.
Determining the impact of temperature and organic fertilizer type on the soil mineral nitrogen supply and the productivity of organic cranberry crops
Flexible management of nitrogen fertilization (fertilizer type and dose) as a function of temperature for better yields in organic cranberry production.
Researcher: Christine Landry
The agricultural value of whole biomethanation digestate and its various fractions: potential use in fertilization and recycled bedding
Assessment of the efficiency of biomethanation digestate as a fertilizer for field crops and as recycled bedding in dairy production.
Researchers: Stéphane Godbout Christine Landry Caroline Côté
Fugitive emissions after manure spreading: risk assessment and mitigation
This project addresses the risks posed by the spreading of manure and emissions released into the environment to the biosecurity of farms, as well as to the health of workers and nearby populations.
Researchers: Patrick Brassard Stéphane Godbout
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
OGeMOS Project: Developing and deploying an online tool for managing soil organic matter
This project will develop a versatile tool that will allow to simulate the impacts of agricultural practices on soil organic matter.
Researchers: Aubert Michaud, retraité Marc-Olivier Gasser Simon Ricard
A status report on the labile carbon to total organic carbon ratio of Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean soils
A labile carbon input would displace some phosphorus into the soil solution, thus making it available again for assimilation into growing plants.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Improving nitrogen management in Québec grain corn
This project will determine the optimal post-emergent nitrogen dose to apply.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Out-of-soil cultivation of organic long cane raspberries
Development of a growing out-of-soil organic raspberries in high tunnels protocol in a profitable and competitive manner with a view to selling products locally or to large retail chains.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Modifying an irrigated day-neutral-strawberry growing protocol to improve soil functionality by activating beneficial microorganisms through the addition of labile carbon at planting time
This project will modify current protocols with the addition of labile carbon to preserve or rapidly restore the activity of beneficial microorganisms.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of improved nitrogen fertilizer applications
This research project, initiated by the CÉROM grain research centre, looks to assess the cost-effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizer applications improved by the addition of urea, for use with winter wheat crops grown in Québec.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Determining the nitrogen contribution of mulch mineralization in highbush blueberry cultivation so that nitrogen fertilizer applications meet crop requirements more effectively
The project measures the nitrogen contribution of sawdust mulch.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Developing fertilization strategies for organic garlic farming that combine green and farmyard manure, while taking their N and P supply dynamics and soil quality impacts into account
By enhancing our understanding: 1) of the nitrogen supply dynamics associated with the use of mixed green and farmyard manure applications, and 2) of the timeline of nitrogen uptake by garlic; we hope to fine-tune fertilization strategies so they meet the needs of garlic crops, while minimizing phosphorus accumulation and nitrogen leaching.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Using swine slurry bioconversion to produce effective and socially-acceptable fertilizers
Based on previous work conducted at IRDA and our team’s expertise, this project looks to finalize the development of a robust and cost-effective swine slurry bioconversion system.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
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