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.
Identifying biological indicators of soil health using metagenomic analysis of soil under different grain cropping systems
This project was aimed at identifying and incorporating biological indicators into decision support tools used to assist producers and agroenvironmental regulatory bodies seeking to preserve soil productivity and use sustainable production systems.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
A study on the health of agricultural soils in Quebec
The project consists of evaluating soil degradation based on representative samples taken in Québec’s main soil regions and parent materials.
Researchers: Marc-Olivier Gasser Claude Bernard Catherine Bossé
Effectiveness of an annual vs. end-of-season legume green manure crop in increasing soil resilience and providing sufficient nitrogen
The project compared the nitrogen uptake effects of green manure crops grown for a full season, in association with a main crop, or after it is harvested.
Researchers: Aubert Michaud, retraité Marc-Olivier Gasser Maryse Leblanc
Profitability evaluation of cover crops at the farm level
The project was designed to assess the profitability of various types of cover crops and planting methods at the farm level.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
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.
Researchers: Aubert Michaud, retraité Marc-Olivier Gasser
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
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
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
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.
Researcher: Aubert Michaud, retraité
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
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
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