Researcher, agr., Ph.D.
418 643-2380
ext 650
Associate Researcher, Ph.D.
418 643-2380
ext 406
The availability of arable land is limited in Québec and Ontario. With climate change and the intensification of farming, we will see a deterioration of soil health. The existing arable lands will experience increased production pressure as climate conditions shift to a new norm. Climate change will also spur the expansion of farming operations into regions where the climate is not currently conducive to cultivation. This will lead to the depletion of the soil’s organic matter content; the degradation of soil structure; an increase in erodibility; further runoff, erosion, and pollution of water bodies by sediments, nutrients, and pesticides; and an increase in CO2 atmospheric emissions. The intensification of farming activity will leave the soil even more vulnerable to degradation processes, which, in turn, will exacerbate the abovementioned effects. To mitigate the negative repercussions and ensure the future productivity of agricultural soils in Québec and Ontario, especially in areas where farming is currently limited, we must monitor the changes in soil health brought about by climate change and develop new soil conservation techniques accordingly.
From 2018 to 2021
Project duration
Field crops
Activity areas
Soil health
Service
This project could help to enable agriculture in areas where the climate is not currently conducive to cultivation.
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec | Université du Québec à Chicoutimi | University of Guelph | Ouranos
Scientific article • Gaetan Martinelli, Marc-Olivier Gasser
Martinelli, G. et Gasser, M-O. 2022. . DownloadTo provide information on the fertilizing value and environmental impact of spreading pig manure at different times, the project compared the effect of mineral fertilizer in early fall, late fall, and in the spring.
The aim of the project is to assess the impact of applying various rates of glyphosate in field crop systems on the soil and crop rhizosphere microbiome.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
This research project, initiated by the CÉROM grain research centre, looks to assess the cost-effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizer applications improved by the addition of urea, for use with winter wheat crops grown in Québec.
Researcher: Luc Belzile