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

Experts

Reset Filters

Results for 2015 Soil health
2015-2017 • Fruit production

Developing a cropping system that focuses on improving soil health to restore the yield potential of matted row strawberry fields with a history of strawberry decline

A cropping system based on adding organic matter through soil amendments and organic fertilizers can restore soil health and strawberry yields by limiting the occurrence of disease symptoms.

Researcher: Christine Landry

Read more about the project

Christine Landry
2014-2017 • Market gardeningField crops

Effect of legumes, manure, and compost on soil nitrogen dynamics and microbial diversity under organic production

Using a split-split-plot design, this study tested three variables: soil tillage, crop rotation in organic production, and fertilization with manure or compost.

Researcher: Caroline Côté

Read more about the project

Caroline Côté
2013-2018 • Fruit production

NPK trials for strawberries on mineral soils in Québec

The data generated by this project was used to develop a new NPK fertilization chart that reflects technical, agronomic, and environmental issues.

Researcher: Christine Landry

Read more about the project

Christine Landry
2013-2018 • Market gardening

NPK fertilizer trials for beets on mineral soils in Québec

This project was aimed at determining the nutrient needs of beets based on soil texture and phosphorus and potassium levels under Québec growing conditions.

Researcher: Christine Landry

Read more about the project

Christine Landry
2013-2017 • Field crops

NPK fertilizer trials on barley on mineral soils in Québec

The aim of this project was to gather data on the nutritional requirements of barley to better equip producers, extension agents, and other industry stakeholders.

Researcher: Christine Landry

Read more about the project

Christine Landry
2013-2017 • Field crops

NPK fertilizer trials for oat crops on mineral soils in Québec

The aim of this project was to gather data on the nutritional requirements of oats to better equip producers, extension agents, and other industry stakeholders.

Researcher: Christine Landry

Read more about the project

Christine Landry
2014-2017 • Field crops

Determining the ideal time to spread pig manure to improve crop yield and protect soil, water, and air quality

To provide information on the fertilizing value and environmental impact of spreading pig manure at different times, the project compared the effect of mineral fertilizer in early fall, late fall, and in the spring.

Read more about the project

2015-2018

Managing subsurface drainage water to optimize crop productivity, nutrient use, and water availability under current and future climatic conditions

The purpose of the project was to assess the benefits of controlled farm drainage under current and future climatic conditions to meet the water needs of field crops and rural communities while reducing nitrogen and phosphorus flows into watercourses.

Read more about the project

Aubert Michaud, retraité
Marc-Olivier Gasser
2014-2017 • Field crops

Development of cover crop techniques and their adaptation to the Estrie region

IRDA was in charge of conducting the economic analysis for this project carried out by Club agroenvironnemental de l’Estrie (CAE Estrie).

Researcher: Luc Belzile

Read more about the project

2015-2017 • Field crops

Impacts of green manure on soil structure in the Estrie region

This project was carried out by Club agroenvironnemental de l’Estrie and IRDA was in charge of conducting the economic analysis.

Researcher: Luc Belzile

Read more about the project

2015-2017 • Livestock production

Managing berms and swales to increase the effectiveness of vegetative filter strips around beef cow wintering lots

This project aimed to evaluate the purification capacity of different configurations of swales planted with shrubs or perennial grasses to serve as vegetative filter strips.

Researcher: Marc-Olivier Gasser

Read more about the project

Marc-Olivier Gasser
2015-2018 • Field cropsLivestock production

A diagnostic tool for phosphorus and nitrogen exports (P+N Edit)

The aim of this project was to consolidate current scientific knowledge with a view to developing a spatially referenced tool to predict diffuse sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus exports at the farm and watershed scale.

Read more about the project

Aubert Michaud, retraité
2014-2017 • Field crops

Subsoiling and temporary drainage in soils with low permeability

The project evaluated and compared the effectiveness of two types of subsoil plows (mounted on a bulldozer or a tractor) operated parallel and perpendicular to the tile drains to improve soil drainage conditions and productivity compared to control plots.

Researcher: Marc-Olivier Gasser

Read more about the project

Marc-Olivier Gasser
2014-2017 • Market gardening

Biological characterization of soils to increase potato productivity and soil sustainability

To increase the productivity of potato production systems and preserve soil quality, we need to enhance our knowledge of interactions among biological, physical, chemical, and agronomic characteristics of cultivated soils in various environments.

Researcher: Richard Hogue

Read more about the project

Richard Hogue

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

F