Using isotopic techniques to investigate soil erosion processes

Claude Bernard

Associate Researcher, Ph.D.

Contact Claude Bernard

Description

Soil displacement and net production of sediments from fields with different soil textures in the Ruisseau Ewing watershed and Rivière aux Brochets subwatershed can be quantified by measuring the spatial redistribution of 137Cs and 210Pb. The 13C signature of suspended solids (SS) can be compared with that of potential SS sources (cultivated fields, meadows, woods, river banks) to quantify the relative contribution of these sources to SS loads. This study is one of a series of projects conducted by IRDA and its partners in the Missisquoi Bay watershed in recent years.

Objective(s)

  • Quantify the scale of soil displacement and net sediment production in the past 50 years for various soil textures and compare these results with those generated by modeling the watershed with SWAT
  • Examine the relationship between soil displacement and runoff patterns and the contribution of subsurface drainage to the export of suspended solids
  • Evaluate the relative contribution of various forms of land use in the watershed to suspended solid loads measured at the watershed outfall and compare it to that predicted by the SWAT model

From 2017 to 2021

Project duration

Soil health, Water protection

Services

This approach will help to reduce the diffuse pollution caused by farming activities.

Partner

Atomic Energy Agency

Publications

This may interest you

2018-2019

Developing biostimulants from pyrolytic oils produced from agricultural and forestry biomass

The general goal of the project is to develop biostimulants from oils produced by the rapid pyrolysis of crop and logging residues.

Read more about the project

Stéphane Godbout
Richard Hogue
2021-2024

Reducing N2O emissions through best fertilization practices

Reducing N2O emissions from organic and inorganic fertilizers using 4R practices and other nitrogen conservation approaches on Quebec farms – assessment and quantification protocols

Researcher: Simon Ricard

Read more about the project

Simon Ricard
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
F