Mohammad Khodaei | ALES Graduate Seminar

Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree.
This is an ALES MSc Final Exam Seminar by Mohammad Khodaei. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.

MSc with Dr Derek MacKenzie.

Thesis Topic: Does compost derived from organic municipal solid waste affect microbial community structure and function in three different agricultural soils of Alberta?

Abstract:

The overuse of chemical fertilizers can cause environmental problems such as water pollution and soil degradation, affecting soil structure, organic matter, and microbial communities. Compost application in regenerative agriculture can help counteract the loss of organic matter from synthetic fertilizers, improving soil health by enhancing carbon sequestration, microbial diversity, and nutrient content. This study examined microbial properties across three soil types in central Alberta after applying compost treatments blended with biochar, wood ash, gypsum, and synthetic fertilizer. Soil samples were analyzed for biological and chemical parameters, and DNA sequencing was performed. Results showed that soils with low organic matter and high sand content had reduced microbial activity and poorer crop yields. While compost treatments did not significantly alter microbial diversity in this soil, it improved microbial function and productivity in finer-textured soils. Also, Synthetic fertilizers negatively impacted microbial heterogeneity in fine-textured soils and microbial interactions in all soils.