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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Experts
Developing an organic farming protocol for young vegetable shoots: a multidisciplinary approach
This project will help lead to the development of an organic farming system to grow baby greens.
Researchers: Caroline Côté Annabelle Firlej Carl Boivin Maryse Leblanc
HebdEau: a pilot project to develop sound irrigation management decision-support tools
This project looks to develop decision-support tools informed by observations of “bellwether” plots and use these tools to disseminate relevant information to irrigators.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Improving the efficiency of rainwater and irrigation use in the potato cropping system
This project proposes an intervention in a typical potato cropping system to enhance the crop uptake of water and nitrogen.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Management and ecological restoration of peatlands for a sustainable Canadian horticultural peat industry
Development of a strategy for rapidly producing biomass using restoration and irrigation.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Quantitative and qualitative water management in crops
Designing and teaching a course for agricultural consultants.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Québec-wide potassium fertilization trial on fresh cucumber under fertigation
This project was aimed at determining potassium doses (5 doses) to apply before planting on nitrogen-fertigated cucumber crops grown on plastic mulch.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Exploring the potential of thermal imaging data acquired by drone for the detection of water stress in lowbush blueberries
Exploration of the potential of detecting water stress in lowbush blueberries using a thermal infrared imaging sensor installed on a drone.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Cultural strategies for haskap berries: improving orchard productivity
The aim of this project is to improve the productivity of haskap orchards by promoting more efficient water and nutrient uptake.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Analyzing sap flow to assess water absorption dynamics in apple trees
The hypothesis was that it should be possible to measure sap flow in apple trees and correlate it with soil water conditions and the weather.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Potato fertigation using a drip irrigation system
The aim of this project was to leverage the efficiency of drip irrigation and splitting nitrogen inputs into multiple applications to reduce total nitrogen inputs per unit produced and provide better economic and environmental alternatives to conventional irrigation.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
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
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
Control measures to reduce clogging in a St. Lawrence River water treatment process using slow sand filtration
To manage clogging risks, the project automated pumping based on water turbidity and cover the filter to prevent light from entering the water and thus reduce algal bloom.
Researcher: Caroline Côté
Banded controlled-release and conventional fertilizer in horticultural production under plastic mulch
The aim of this project was to field-test sound irrigation practices and band application of various types of fertilizers at ridging time to eliminate fertigation and increase the efficiency of fertilizer and water use under plastic mulch.
Researchers: Carl Boivin Christine Landry
Improve the efficiency of water use in different potato cultivars
The aim of the project was to measure the performance and water requirements of eight potato cultivars under commercial production conditions.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
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