Since its inception in 2002, the Applied Soil Ecology Lab has employed more than 60 undergraduate summer research students, graduated 14 B.Sc., 19 M.Sc., and 10 Ph.D. students, hosted 7 international Visiting Researchers, provided career development opportunities for 10 Research Associates / Post Doctoral Fellowships, and trained 39 technicians in its Greenhouse Gas Research Program and Soil Ecology & Plant Disease Research Program.
Many of our past personnel have gone on to further their education and establish successful careers in their field of study, including positions with major agronomic associations and businesses, Manitoba Agriculture, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), as professors / researchers at Canadian or international universities, and proprietors of agronomic businesses / consulting firms.
CURRENT PERSONNEL
Post Doctoral Fellows & Research Associates
Dr. Pedro Ferrari Machado (2021-) is a Postdoctoral Fellow whose research focuses on analysis of the unique dataset resulting from the Fertilizer Use Survey, which was conducted between the 2014 and 2019 growing seasons and summarizes the fertilizer management practices and current knowledge of 4R Nutrient Stewardship of growers across Canada. Dr. Ferrari Machado’s analyses will enable the establishment of baselines and identification of trends/future opportunities related to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer management practices in the Canadian Prairies and Eastern Canada.
PhD Students
JOSÉ A. ALMODÓVAR-GOMEZ (2022-) Benefits of Cover Crops and their Effect on Offsetting Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture Systems in Southern Manitoba
José is a PhD candidate from Dominican Republic researching the effects of cover crops, and in particular verifying if the termination of an established cover crop results in N2O emissions. His research is conducted at the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment (NCLE) Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Program (AGGP) long-term study site in Southern Manitoba.
RIDA SABIROVA (2022-) Indirect Emissions of Nitrogen as NH3 on Sand and Clay Soil; Extending Biophysical Models of N2O Emissions to Include 4R Practices; Forecasting N2O Emission Reductions in Canada Based on 4R Practice Adoption Scenarios
Rida is a PhD candidate from Russia investigating indirect emissions of N as ammonia from sandy soils with multiple urease inhibitor products and varying urease inhibitor concentrations. She will use a method of measuring ammonia volatilization recently developed by Victoria Deakin, an Applied Soil Ecology Lab NSERC undergraduate student. A large part of Rida’s PhD is modelling 4R practices; in collaboration with AAFC-Ottawa and the University of Guelph, Rida will first determine existing gaps in the Canada-DNDC model that prevent 4R practices to be simulated, and then use datasets from the Lab’s past and current field projects to incorporate 4R practices into the model.
VICTOR VALDEZ (2020-) Cover Crop Effects on the Dynamics of Nitrogen Cycling in Prairie Soils at Near Above Freezing Temperatures with Contrasting Carbon and Nitrogen Sources
Victor is a PhD candidate from Belize investigating use of cover crop systems to lower the carbon to nitrogen ratio before winter deep freeze, which will prospectively decrease emissions of N2O and CO2 during spring thaw. His project consists of studying the relationships between gas emissions, C and N substrates, nitrogen cycling gene expression, and enzymatic kinetics in near above frozen soils. By replacing the labor-intensive soil sampling for C and N with simple field estimates of reverse transcribed soil RNA, the identification of one or a set of target genes (Archaea- and Bacteria-amoA, nrfA, hzo/hao, narG/napA, nirK/S, c/qnorB, nosZ1) as proxies for N loss or retention may offer a vital instrument for advising the dynamics of spring gas emissions and soil N in agriculture.
HEATHER FLOOD (2021-) Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycling in the Glenlea Long-term Crop Rotation and Management Study
Heather is a PhD candidate in the Department of Plant Science (co-supervised by Dr. Martin Entz).
NAZANIN GHAVAMI (2016-) Survey and Development of Molecular Soil Test for Soybean Cyst Nematode in Manitoba
Naz is a PhD candidate investigating Manitoban soybean fields for the presence of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines. Her project continues from surveys conducted from 2012 to 2015 that did not find the nematode. SCN is one of the most devastating disease/pest organisms of soybean worldwide and is found in all major soybean growing regions of the world, including Ontario and Quebec in Canada. It is expected to soon be present in Manitoba as the pest has progressed northward in Minnesota and North Dakota to reach the Manitoba border. Early detection of SCN before it establishes in Manitoba is critical to limit yield losses. Nazanin will also use her research to develop molecular protocols for quantification of SCN calibrated to traditional microscopic counting of eggs to replace the laborious and error-prone extraction/observation that currently exist for SCN quantification and identification.
MSc Students
SAKSHI (2022-) Meta-Analysis to Assess the Impact of 4R N Management on the Reduction of N2O Emissions
The scope of Sakshi’s research is to check direct and indirect nitrous oxide emissions from soil and the impact of nitrification inhibitors, and fertilizer placement, rate, and timing. Sakshi is co-supervised by Dr. Xiaopeng Gao, the 4R IRC incremental faculty hire and professor of soil fertility and agronomy in the Department of Soil Science.
FAEZEH PARASTESH (2021-) N2O Soil Profile Relationships to Field Emissions at the TGAS-MAN Long-term Greenhouse Gas Research Site
Faezeh’s research deals with soil profile characterization of greenhouse gases in clay soil and inference to production and consumption processes and conditions in the soil leading to surface fluxes. She is using the TGAS-MAN research site for her studies. Faezeh is co-supervised by Dr. Xiaopeng Gao, the 4R IRC incremental faculty hire and professor of soil fertility and agronomy in the Department of Soil Science.
SHANNON MUSTARD (2021-) Whole Field and Year Net Emission of N2O and CO2 for an Agricultural Field in Southwestern Manitoba under 4R Management
Shannon is an MSc student studying the relationship between synthetic fertilizer application, nitrification inhibitors, and N2O emissions from sandy loam soil in south-western Manitoba. The Trace Gas Harvest Moon site will be established spring 2022 and the first year will focus on developing a comprehensive site analysis. The second year will apply a flux gradient technique to collect continuous gas samples from the control (NO NIs) and treatment (NI) plots.
KATIE WEBB (2021-) Effect of Fall Rye Cover Crop on CO2 and N2O Fluxes Over 4 Years in the Red River Valley
Katie is an MSc student doing research at the TGAS-MAN site in Glenlea, Manitoba, looking at the effect of fall established cover crops on annual CO2 and N2O fluxes. Fall rye was used as the cover crop and was planted post-harvest in fall and then allowed to grow until it was terminated the following spring at seeding. CO2 and N2O data for the project is being collected from fall of 2018 until the end of the season in 2021.
M JUNAID AFZAL (2021-) Fall Nitrification Inhibition of Anhydrous Ammonia in Manitoba
Junaid is an MSc student conducting large-scale field research trials in south-central Manitoba to determine if applying anhydrous ammonia in fall with Nitrification Inhibitors can slow down nitrification and reduce fall nitrogen (N) rate requirements, in order to prevent N losses due to nitrification and leaching. His research will improve our understanding of inhibiting nitrification and also allow us to compare the recently developed CENTURO® with the more commonly used N-Serve®.
HANNAH KEENES (2020-) Survey of cow-calf operations to characterize manure nutrient profile and management practices
Hannah is an MSc student in Animal Science (co-supervised by Dr. Kim Ominski) examining greenhouse gas emissions from stored manure from beef cow overwintering sites, and the relationship between manure emissions and farm management practices. Her project involves a producer survey, physical and chemical characterization of stored manure, and determination of manure gas flux using FTIR spectroscopy on 10 cow-calf farms across Manitoba.
CLAUDIA QUILESFOGEL-ESPARZA (2020-) Improving Nitrogen Recommendations Using Canopy Sensing
Claudia is an MSc student using canopy sensors to predict nitrogen fertilizer recommendations. She conducted field experiments in western Manitoba using trials on commercial fields in 2018 through 2021, using handheld and drone sensors to establish the most economical in-season fertilizer recommendations at early corn stages.
KODY OLESON (2019-) 4R Options to Boost Corn Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Reduce N2O Emissions in Sandy Soil
Kody is an MSc student studying the influence of 4R nitrogen management practices on indirect emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) through leaching and subsequent denitrification of nitrate (NO3–). His research took place in western Manitoba where soils are light, well-draining, and low in organic matter content, a sharp contrast to the Lab’s usual field sites located in the Red River Valley.
Undergraduate Students
JARED WIENS (2022) Quantifying Nitrate Leaching Using a Passive-Wick Lysimeter
Jared is an undergraduate NSERC student tasked with installing passive wick lysimeters at the newly established Trace Gas Manitoba Harvest Moon long-term field site. He will use these to quantify the amount of water moving out of the root zone and nitrogen lost due to leaching through the light soil.
Technicians
PRABAKARAN SANTHANAM, B.Eng. Biosystems (2022-)
Research Assistant
Prabakaran is a Biosystems Engineer whose research in the Applied Soil Ecology Lab focuses on improving the Canadian swine production industries and auditing their water and energy resources.
ZHE SONG, M.Sc. (2021-)
General Lab Director and Lead Chemical Analyst
Zhe is the Applied Soil Ecology Lab’s lead soil and plant chemistry analyst. His responsibilities include processing and analyzing soil and plant samples collected from greenhouse gas emissions field study sites, managing output data, and training undergraduate and graduate students on proper lab procedures.
LEANDRO CAMPODONICO, B.Eng. (2021-)
Greenhouse Gas Lab Technician
Leandro is a lab technician in support of the 4R IRC research program. His responsibilities include field sampling, and processing and analyzing soil and biomass samples collected during the growing season.
PRISCILLAR WENYIKA, M.Sc. (2021-)
Molecular Biology Technician
Priscillar conducts research on plant-parasitic nematodes in order to understand their hose preferences, and what factors affect their presence and abundance in soils. Her work includes nematode extraction from soils and crop samples, enumeration, DNA extraction from nematodes and fungal pathogens, morphological and molecular identification, and culturing.
DERRICK OUMA, B.Sc. Env. Eng. (2021-)
TGAS-HM Engineer & Micrometeorology Technician
Derrick is an Environmental Engineer and field tech for the Greenhouse Gas Research Program. He is responsible for the general maintenance and upkeep of the Trace Gas Manitoba automatic gas sampling system.
FERNANDA GOUVEA, M.Sc. (2020-)
Soil Ecology & Plant Disease Lab Director & Lead Molecular Biology Technician
Fernanda’s work focuses on microbial-host interactions, life-cycle development, and damage potential of economically important plant-parasitic nematode species. She coordinates routine diagnostic analyses (molecular and morphological) of soil-borne crop pathogens including fungi such as Verticillium spp. Fernanda is responsible for training new personnel, graduate and summer students in proper molecular biology/microbiology and lab safety techniques.
EMMA UNRUH, B.Sc. Eng. Biosystems (2020-)
Gas Lab and Engineering Technician
Emma works closely with Brad to analyze the thousands of greenhouse gas samples collected each growing season, process output data, and maintain the lab’s gas chromatographs. She also operates the lab’s 3D printer, a custom-made auto-evacuator used to prepare vials for gas emissions samples, and helps oversee the summer students’ daily activities.
MARLIESE PETERSON, B.Sc., M.Sc. (2015-)
4R IRC Research Program Technician
Marliese manages the website for the laboratory and 4R IRC (www.soilecology.ca), social media accounts, and outreach programs. She also manages the Lab’s online digital databases and assists with the overall coordination of summer research student training and daily field assignments and has experience collecting, processing, and analyzing gas, soil, and biomass samples for the Lab.
BRAD SPARLING, B.A, M.A. Geog. (2005-)
Field Director & Lead Gas Analyst
Brad is the director of the Greenhouse Gas Program’s field operations, its lead gas analyst, and the Lab’s GIS technician. He is responsible for analyzing gas samples collected by graduate students and field technicians, processing the data, and maintaining the Lab’s three gas chromatographs. Brad also coordinates and supervises the field work for our multiple projects and trains our undergraduate summer research students in proper field sampling techniques.
PAST RESEARCHERS
Post Doctoral Fellows & Research Associates
Faith Omonijo (2019-2020) (co-supervised by Christine Rawluk, NCLE Research Development & Communications Coordinator, University of Manitoba) Swine Science Cluster project, Advancing the Canadian Swine Sector Through Environmental Footprint Analysis.
Yaohong Zhang (2019-2020) (co-supervised by Dr. Xiaopeng Gao, Department of Soil Science, UM)
Dr. Xiaopeng Gao (2012-2020) Development and Modeling of 4R® Management Strategies to Reduce N2O Emissions from Agricultural Systems. Dr. Gao is now an Assistant Professor in Soil Fertility and Agronomy in the Department of Soil Science at the U of M.
Dr. Kevin Baron (2013-2017) Field Studies of 4R® Nitrogen Management of Wheat and Canola
Dr. Mehrdad Madani (2012-2016) Molecular Diagnostic Development of Plant Parasitic Nematodes
Dr. Haben Asgedom (2009-2012) 4R® Nitrogen Management Studies for Reduction in Emissions of Nitrous Oxide from Soil
Dr. Shabeg Briar (2009-2011) Survey of Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Yellow Pea in Prairie Canada
Dr. Abdel El Hadrami (2007-2009) Green Manures to Reduce Potato Early Dying
PhD Students
Yanyan Li (2019-2020) (visiting PhD candidate from the Chinese Academy of Sciences studying under the supervision of Dr. Xiaopeng Gao) Thesis: Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers to Reduce N2O Emissions from Irrigated Croplands in Arid Northwestern China
Mingyuan Yin (2018-2020) (visiting PhD candidate from the Chinese Academy of Sciences studying under the supervision of Dr. Xiaopeng Gao) Thesis: Emissions of N2O from Grassland Ecosystem Under Different Grazing Intensities on Kunlun Mountain in Southern Xinjiang, China
Griselda Gamarra (2018-2019) (visiting PhD candidate from the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay) Thesis: Development of a Model of Gross and Net Income and Return on Investment Based on the Application of Enhanced and Conventional Fertilizers
Wennong Kuang (2017-2019) (visiting PhD candidate from the Chinese Academy of Sciences studying under the supervision of Dr. Xiaopeng Gao) Thesis: Study on the Mechanism of Water and Fertilizer Management on N2O Production and Emission from Cotton Fields in Arid Regions of Northwest China
Abolfazl Hajihassani (2012-2016) Studies of Plant Host Preferences of the Stem Nematodes Ditylenchus weischeri and D. dipsaci (DOWNLOAD)
Oscar Molina (2011-2016) Identification of Verticillium Species and Control Methods for Verticillium Wilt of Potato in Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
Ainsley Hamm (2009-2014) Bacterial Community Ecology and Fate in Integrated Livestock Production Systems (DOWNLOAD)
Luca Coppi (2006-2013) Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Soil and Groundwater Following Repeated Nitrogen-based Swine Slurry Applications to a Tame Grassland on Coarse Textured Soil (DOWNLOAD)
Aaron Glenn (2006-2010) Greenhouse Gas Fluxes and Budget for an Annual Cropping System in the Red River Valley, Manitoba, Canada (DOWNLOAD)
Amro Mahran (2005-2009) Suppression of the Root-lesion Nematode Using Liquid Hog Manure (DOWNLOAD)
MSc Students
Priscillar Wenyika (2016-2019) Host Preference for Pratylenchus neglectus Among the Major Crops Grown in the Canadian Prairie Provinces (DOWNLOAD)
Abhishek Agarwal (2016-2018) Study on Verticillium longisporum of Canola from the First Reported Farm in North America (DOWNLOAD)
Matthew Wood (2016-2018) Right Source and Right Time: Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions with Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers (DOWNLOAD)
Fernanda Govea Pereira (2015-2018) Survey of Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Pulse Crop Fields in the Canadian Prairies (DOWNLOAD)
Mick Runzika (2014-2017) Nitrification Rate Effect on Cumulative Nitrous Oxide Emission from Soil (DOWNLOAD)
Megan Westphal (2014-2016) Nitrous Oxide Soil Emissions from an Organic and Conventionally Managed Cropping System in Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
William Shaw (2014-2016) Placement, Timing, and Source of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield of Irrigated Russet Burbank Potato in Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
Jolene Rutter (2012-2016) Winter Composting of Separated Pig Slurry Solids and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (DOWNLOAD)
Siobhan Maas (2009-2011) Perennial Legume Phase and Annual Crop Rotation Influences on CO2 and N2O Fluxes Over Two Years in the Red River Valley, Manitoba, Canada (DOWNLOAD)
Gwen Donohoe (2009-2011) Nutrient Excretion and Soil Greenhouse Emission from Excreta of Overwintering Beef Cows Fed Forage-based Diets Supplemented with Dries Distillers’ Grains with Solubles (DOWNLOAD)
Krista Hanis-Gervais (2008-2010) Eddy Covariance Measurements of Methane Flux in a Subarctic Fen with Emphasis on Spring-melt Period (DOWNLOAD)
Rhea Lumactud (2008-2010) Spatial Distribution of Soil Nematodes in the Sub-Arctic Environment of Churchill, Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
Oscar Molina (2007-2009) Effect of Green Manures and Organic Amendments on Verticillium Wilt of Potato in Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
Nandakumar Rajendran (2007-2009) Dynamics of Profiles of Soil Greenhouse Gases in a Topographically Variable Landscape in Western Canada (DOWNLOAD)
Fardausi Akhtar (2006-2008) Crop Management Impacts On Mycorrhizal Colonization and Cadmium Availability in Agricultural Crops (DOWNLOAD)
Adedeji Dunmola (2005-2007) Greenhouse Gas Emission from a Prairie Pothole Landscape in Western Canada (DOWNLOAD)
Jacqueline Churchill (2005-2007) Spatial Variation of Soil Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Subarctic Environments of Churchill, Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
Catherine Welsh (2005-2007) Organic Crop Management Can Decrease Labile Soil P and Promote Mycorrhizal Association of Crops (DOWNLOAD)
Denis Trémorin (2004-2008) Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Grassland Pasture Fertilized with Liquid Hog Manure (DOWNLOAD)
Undergraduate Thesis & NSERC Students
Victoria Deakin (2020-2021) Development of a Convenient and Accurate Method of Determination of Ammonia Volatilization from Cropped Soils
Colleen Robertson (2019-2020) Soil Properties in Relation to Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis) in Fescue Grasslands at Riding Mountain National Park
Katie Webb (2018-2019) Comparing Greenhouse Gas Production in Stockpiled Cattle Manure
Andrew Hector (2018-2019) Does Increasing Length of Polyculture Deployment Affect Soil Health?
Samuel Steinman (2016-2018) Trends in Agronomic Nutrient Use Efficiency of Major Field Crops in Manitoba
Torrie Eggie (2015-2017) The Reliability of the Rapitest®: Soil Test Kit for Nitrogen and Phosphorus for Garden Soils
Stephanie Dheilly (2013-2015) Soil Nutrient Levels in Vegetable Gardens
Amanda Stefanson (2009-2011) Potential for Winter Composting of Separated Pig Manure Solids in Manitoba
Jolene Rutter (2009-2011) Methane Emissions in Relation of Landscape Position in a Field in the Red River Valley
Lindsey Andronak (2009-2010) Nitrous Oxide and Denitrification Fluxes for a Cropped Field in the Red River Valley, Manitoba
Dale Boswick (2006-2008) Impact of Water Logging on N2O Emissions
Andrea Bacler (2006-2007) Toxicity of Cadmium and Zinc to the Nematode, C. elegans
Siobhan Maas (2005-2007) Nutrient Accumulation in Bare Earth Patches of a Grazed Pasture
Corinne Barker (2006-2007) Sentinel Nematodes of Soil Health
Jody Blazenko (2005-2006) Nutrient Water Quality of a Cow-Calf Operations in Manitoba