Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Helping Nature Heal (HNH) based in Bridgewater NS, is a Canadian ecological landscaping company that combines environmental and sustainability science to renew and restore degraded, damaged, or destroyedecosystems and habitats since 2004. HNH also provides consultation services for many aspects of landscaping and gardening, including forest stewardship, erosion management, habitat creation, and edible landscaping. Concerned by the devastating impact of soil erosion across Canada, HNH has developed significant strategies that can help to slow the rate of erosion by 98% by implementing plant-based systems. The overall objective of this proposed study is to determine the optimum fertility regime(s) to improve plant root growth and its macro and micro scale properties. Fertility regimes include nutrient source, formulation with microbial fertilizers (increasing the auxins liberation), implementation of fungi colonies as well as timing of treatments. The project will involve determining optimal fertility formulation and application timing; determining root macro and micro scale properties; evaluating the potential of microbial fertilizers to improve plant root growth; and evaluating the potential of mycorrhizal fungi to increase the connectivity between plant roots and soil. This proposed project will have both environmental and economic benefits in Canada with the development of plant-based methods of soil erosion prevention. Developing new techniques for soil erosion prevention can aid in decreasing monetary losses that homeowners experience due to soil erosion. In addition, soil erosion prevention will benefit Canadian farmers by reducing the percentage of crops annually lost to soil erosion. Canada's natural environments will benefit from the proposed methods as they have a lower ecological impact and can improve soil integrity. Overall, this plant-based approach is more cost-effective and sustainable than the construction of seawalls.