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.
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Major Initiatives
Major initiatives (3)Activity area
Livestock production (13) Market gardening (28) Fruit production (37) Field crops (22)Services
Soil health (17) Water protection (12) Air quality (6) Ecosystem protection (6) (17) Fertilizer management (23) Pest, weed, and disease control (47) Animal welfare (4) Food safety and quality (4) Organic farming (20) Waste conversion (8) Environmental regulations (3) Coexisting in an agricultural environment (1) Laboratory analyzes (1)Experts
Impact of irrigation system management and cultivar on nitrogen use by potatoes under commercial production conditions
The goal of this project was to measure the impact of irrigation management on nitrogen uptake and available soil nitrogen on several cultivars under commercial production conditions.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Arthropod resistance to pesticides: literature review of resistant pests and resistance tests
IRDA drew up a list of insects and mites in Québec known to be or likely to become resistant to pesticides.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Annabelle Firlej
Cost-effectiveness of irrigation on Québec potato farms
The aim of this project is to evaluate this aspect of potato production economics to assist producers and their advisors.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Low GHG emission strategies for Quebec dairy farms
The aim of this project was to identify manure management strategies that boost productivity on Québec dairy farms and reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Watershed monitoring in Saint-Zotique, Québec
The IRDA team is monitoring the hydrology of the three main watersheds in Saint-Zotique.
Researcher: Aubert Michaud, retraité
GIS tool kit to support municipal drain management in preparation for climate change
The purpose of this project was to develop a set of spatially referenced tools for watercourse managers and those in charge of planning sustainable, environmentally friendly improvements to water systems.
Researcher: Aubert Michaud, retraité
Integrated approach to nitrogen fertilization for profitable organic potato production and a balanced phosphorus budget
There is a great need to test green manure as a main source of nitrogen for potatoes as they help to maintain soil quality and control weeds.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Combining slow release and conventional nitrogen fertilizer to reduce leaching and stabilize annual potato yields
Meeting nitrogen requirements mainly through the use of a highly stable form of fertilizer can minimize nitrogen losses, provide nitrogen amounts closer to the plant’s actual needs.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Selection and management of legume intercrops in organic vegetable production
This project proposes ways of using legume intercrops to control vegetable pests (insects, diseases, and weeds) while increasing soil productivity and quality and economic yields.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Biological control of leek moth through the release of trichogramma wasps in organic leek production in Québec
This project as aimed at comparing the efficacy of two parasites (T. brassicae and T. ostriniae) on leek moth.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Chia: a new crop for organic production in Québec
This two-year project, conducted at the Organic Agriculture Innovation Platform, compared the effect of three seeding dates and three seeding rates on chia yields.
Control strategies for swede midge in organic production
This project evaluated effective and economically viable control strategies for swede midge that are healthy for both humans and the ecosystem.
Control of the striped cucumber beetle in organic cucurbit production
This project determined the efficacy of various pest control products on the striped cucumber beetle on organic cucurbit crops.
Potential of a flowering plant mix to encourage natural enemies of caterpillar pests on crucifers (cabbage family)
This three-year project looked at optimal ways to use a mix of flowering plants against caterpillar pests of crucifers.
Understanding and integrating a novel technique to promote depletion of weed seed banks: How biofumigation affects different types of seed dormancy and weed ecology
Biofumigation could be an attractive option for increasing the mortality of dormant seeds.
Researcher: Maryse Leblanc
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