Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Université Laval
$343,911.00
Modèle d'interventions localisées en conservation des sols organiques
EF 2019-20
Résumé
In Quebec, field vegetable production in organic soils accounts for 35% of the 15,000 ha in use and 50% of the turnover of this sector. It is known that organic soils, very productive, degrade by consolidation, erosion and oxidation at a rate of 2 cm per year. With an average thickness of 100 cm and therefore an expected lifetime of 50 years, it is essential to invest in the conservation of these soils to maintain this major production capital for the Canadian agri-food industry. This RCP proposal is a research project primarily conducted at the partners' field scale. It aims to acquire the knowledge necessary to understand the mechanisms governing wind erosion, the drainage and compaction of organic soils at the field scale and to quantify the dominant processes in real field conditions. The project is divided into four axes. The first aims to characterize and quantify initial and final wind erosion following implementation of control methods and to validate a recommendation model. The second axis involves the establishment of plots in biomass production to define the crop management and to obtain yields that will meet the needs of soil amendments and the need to fight wind erosion. The third axis consists of field trials and follow-up of amendment, rotation and vertical drainage tests to improve soil structure and drainage. The fourth axis consists in integrating the knowledge acquired and the models developed into a localized soil management plan and in conducting a technical-economic study to guide intervention decisions. The new knowledge that will result from this RCP project will lead to improved soil and water management, better agronomic performances, reduced groundwater pollution and increased carbon sequestration, while maintaining the productivity of these high-level companies. As part of this project, 4 doctoral students, 5 master's students and 55undergraduate students will be trained in a sector of activity essential to the development of Canadian agriculture.
Programme
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Quebec, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
520266-2017
Name nom
Caron, Jean
Department département
Sols et de génie agroalimentaire
Organization id
51
Institution établissement
Université Laval
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2019
Competition year année de concours
2017
Award amount
343911
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
141
Committee name en
University/Industry
Committee name fr
Universités/industrie
Area of application code
105
Area of application group en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application group fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Area of application en
Farming: soil and water resources
Area of application fr
Agriculture : ressources en eau et en sols
Research subject code
4800
Research subject group en
Soil science
Research subject group fr
Science du sol
Research subject en
Soil science
Research subject fr
Science du sol
Installment
inst:2 - 2
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Modèle d'interventions localisées en conservation des sols organiques
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
In Quebec, field vegetable production in organic soils accounts for 35% of the 15,000 ha in use and 50% of the turnover of this sector. It is known that organic soils, very productive, degrade by consolidation, erosion and oxidation at a rate of 2 cm per year. With an average thickness of 100 cm and therefore an expected lifetime of 50 years, it is essential to invest in the conservation of these soils to maintain this major production capital for the Canadian agri-food industry. This RCP proposal is a research project primarily conducted at the partners' field scale. It aims to acquire the knowledge necessary to understand the mechanisms governing wind erosion, the drainage and compaction of organic soils at the field scale and to quantify the dominant processes in real field conditions. The project is divided into four axes. The first aims to characterize and quantify initial and final wind erosion following implementation of control methods and to validate a recommendation model. The second axis involves the establishment of plots in biomass production to define the crop management and to obtain yields that will meet the needs of soil amendments and the need to fight wind erosion. The third axis consists of field trials and follow-up of amendment, rotation and vertical drainage tests to improve soil structure and drainage. The fourth axis consists in integrating the knowledge acquired and the models developed into a localized soil management plan and in conducting a technical-economic study to guide intervention decisions. The new knowledge that will result from this RCP project will lead to improved soil and water management, better agronomic performances, reduced groundwater pollution and increased carbon sequestration, while maintaining the productivity of these high-level companies. As part of this project, 4 doctoral students, 5 master's students and 55undergraduate students will be trained in a sector of activity essential to the development of Canadian agriculture.
