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.
Filter Projects
Quantitative and qualitative water management in crops
Designing and teaching a course for agricultural consultants.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Exploring the potential of thermal imaging data acquired by drone for the detection of water stress in lowbush blueberries
Exploration of the potential of detecting water stress in lowbush blueberries using a thermal infrared imaging sensor installed on a drone.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Cultural strategies for haskap berries: improving orchard productivity
The aim of this project is to improve the productivity of haskap orchards by promoting more efficient water and nutrient uptake.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
A study on the relationship between thermal imaging data collected by drone and agrometerological indicators of water stress in potato crops
The aim of this project was to study the relationship between thermal imaging data collected by drone and agrometerological indicators of water stress in potato crops.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Analyzing sap flow to assess water absorption dynamics in apple trees
The hypothesis was that it should be possible to measure sap flow in apple trees and correlate it with soil water conditions and the weather.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Potato fertigation using a drip irrigation system
The aim of this project was to leverage the efficiency of drip irrigation and splitting nitrogen inputs into multiple applications to reduce total nitrogen inputs per unit produced and provide better economic and environmental alternatives to conventional irrigation.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Optimizing methods of installing and maintaining commercial paper mulch
The purpose of the project was to develop techniques and tools for maintaining paper mulch during crop growth.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Banded controlled-release and conventional fertilizer in horticultural production under plastic mulch
The aim of this project was to field-test sound irrigation practices and band application of various types of fertilizers at ridging time to eliminate fertigation and increase the efficiency of fertilizer and water use under plastic mulch.
Researchers: Carl Boivin Christine Landry
Irrigation roadshow: characterize, analyze, optimize, and raise awareness
The goal of this project was to develop an “irrigation roadshow” for eight farming regions in Québec.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Improve the efficiency of water use in different potato cultivars
The aim of the project was to measure the performance and water requirements of eight potato cultivars under commercial production conditions.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Sound water management for lowbush blueberries under fluctuating and changing climatic conditions
Using sound irrigation management to control frost and water stress in lowbush blueberry helps stabilize yield while minimizing environmental impacts.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Improving irrigation management with accurate measurements of effective precipitation
The project consisted of manufacturing and testing a portable rain simulator to estimate, under various conditions, what proportion of irrigation water a crop is able to use.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Effects of various irrigation strategies on nutrient uptake in organically grown June-bearing strawberries grown in beds covered with black plastic mulch
The project was conducted at IRDA’S Organic Agriculture Innovation Platform. Strawberries (Cleary cultivar) were produced in beds covered with black plastic mulch.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Developing decision support tools for integrated potato irrigation management
The aim of this project was to set up a support service to equip producers and others in the industry to improve their irrigation management.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
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