1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree.
This is an ALES PhD Final Exam Seminar by Ekene Iheshiulo. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.
Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/96901936965?pwd=RUlaSjc2VEtDT2liN2dkWG1nZGpwZz09
PhD with Dr. Hernandez Ramirez
Thesis Topic: Diversified No-Tilled Crop Rotations: Soil Health Attributes across Multiple Ecozones on the Canadian Prairies
Seminar Abstract:
Traditional cereal-based cropping systems on the Canadian prairies contributed considerably to soil and environmental degradation, increased production costs, and a threat to agricultural sustainability. Thus, there is a need for sustainable cropping systems that enhances soil health (SH) in the face of climate change. Six 4-year crop rotations [denoted as conventional (control), pulse/oilseed intensified, diversified, market-driven, high-risk and high-reward, and soil health-enhanced rotations] were established under no-till at three Canadian prairie sites: Lethbridge, Swift Current, and Scott. After four growing seasons, topsoil samples were collected to evaluate the impact of these rotations on SH attributes, such as soil organic matter pools, physical and hydraulic properties. Crop rotations did not improve soil organic matter pools, but legume inclusion in rotations improved aggregate stability, resulting in a moderate improvement in soil hydraulic and physical properties. Overall, the high-risk and high-reward, and diversified rotations had better potential to improving SH in the short-term.
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