Jamin Achtymichuk | 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 Jamin Achtymichuk. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.

Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/99285087750?pwd=KUSKJ0vNrTwPZypJHpkvGUr11kTo3b.1

MSc with Drs. Edward Bork and Sylvie Quideau

Thesis Topic: Perennial Forage Polycultures and Organic Amendments Drive Soil Carbon Sequestration and Organic Matter Stabilization: Results After 90 Years of Management at the Breton Plots

Abstract: 

Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) storage could mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health and agricultural productivity. This work aimed to elucidate how SOC formation and stabilization can be impacted by various agricultural practices, including alternating fallow, soil amendment with fertilizer or manure, and the inclusion of perennial grass-legume forage polycultures in cropping systems. Total SOC, carbon fraction, and microbial necromass data from the Breton Plots long-term agroecosystem experiments were leveraged to assess how the above practices had influenced SOC dynamics after 41-91 years of continuous treatment. Fallow was found to reduce SOC storage and stabilization, whereas increasing forage inclusion and amendment with manure improved these characteristics. On the other hand, conventional fertilizer amendment increased SOC storage without an apparent impact on SOC stability but also resulted in increased soil acidification. These results indicate that agricultural practices can be feasibly altered to increase SOC levels.