Since its inception in 2002, the Applied Soil Ecology Lab has provided research opportunites for 17 undergraduate thesis and co-op students, graduated 26 M.Sc. and 11 Ph.D. students, hosted 7 international Visiting Researchers, provided career development opportunities for 11 Research Associates / Post Doctoral Fellowships, employed more than 60 undergraduate summer students, and trained more than 50 technicians in its Greenhouse Gas and Soil Ecology & Plant Disease Research Programs.
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 in the private sector, 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. MIKHAIL MASLOV, P. Ag. (2023-) is a Research Associate specializing in sustainable agricultural practices in the Canadian Prairies. His research evaluates the combined effects of tillage intensity, cover crop integration, and 4R nitrogen management on corn agronomic performance with a focus on mitigating N₂O and CO₂ emissions. His work contributes to the development of region-specific best management practices that enhance nitrogen use efficiency, promote soil health, and mitigate agriculture’s environmental footprint under Prairie climate conditions. Additionally, Mikhail is coordinating the multi-year collaborative project ‘Effect of 4R Nitrogen Management on N₂O Emissions from Field Crops in Manitoba’ with four Manitoba Diversification Centres and our lab.
OLGA MASLOVA (2024-) is a Research Associate whose work focuses on molecular methods in soil science. Her responsibilities include extracting DNA and/or RNA from soil samples, conducting quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, and analyzing the resulting data to determine the abundance and expression levels of functional genes involved in the nitrification, denitrification, nitrogen fixation, and ammonificiation steps of the nitrogen cycle (including archaeal and bacterial amoA, nirK, nirS, and nosZ, bacterial 16S rRNA, 450nor, and archaeal and anammox bacterial 16S rRNA).
PhD Students
RIDA SABIROVA (2022-) Effect of Different Nitrification Inhibitors and their Concentrations on N2O Emissions and Nitrogen Transformations in Soils with Different Textures; Nitrogen Distribution in Soils from Fertilizer Banding; Extending the DeNitrification-DeComposition Model to Include 4R Practices; Predicting N2O Emissions Reduction Based on 4R Practice Adoption Scenarios
Rida is a PhD Candidate from Russia researching reduction of N2O emissions after applying different concentrations of different nitrification inhibitors in sand, loam, and clay soils; and its effect on ammonium, nitrite and nitrate concentrations. She also will study the effect of fertilizer banding with and without nitrification inhibitors on nitrogen diffusion in soils. 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 Canadian version of Denitrification-Decomposition model that has limitations in simulating 4R practices, and then use datasets from the Lab’s past data and her current projects to incorporate 4R practices into the model.
MSc Students
NIPUNI (2025-) A Prairie Assessment of Nitrogen Stabilizers and Split Fertilizer Application in Sustaining Spring Wheat Yield, Protein, and Production Economics While Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions
The scope of Nipuni’s research is to determine the benefit of combinations of split application, inhibitor-treated urea, and reduced rate urea application to agronomic performance and the reduction in N2O emissions from Canadian Western Red Spring Wheat, the largest class of spring wheat produced in the Prairies.
CHRIS HOFFMAN (2025-) Positioning Canada’s Potato Industry for Improved Sustainable Production
The crux of Chris’ research is to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achievable using 4R nitrogen management practices and improved nitrogen use efficient potato varieties in Manitoba, without sacrificing the yield and quality of fresh and processing potatoes.
Technicians
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.
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.
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.
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.
NIC DUTKA, B. Env. Sci. (2025-)
Trace Gas Manitoba & Harvest Moon Technician
PAST RESEARCHERS
Post Doctoral Fellows & Research Associates
Dr. Pedro Ferrari Machado (2021-2022) 4R Nutrient Stewardship Industrial Research Chair program Project 4.1 – The Eastern Canada Fertilizer Use Survey
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
Nazanin Ghavami (2016-2024) Survey and development of a molecular test for Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) in Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
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
Sakshi (2022-2024) Meta-analysis of 4R nitrogen management on direct nitrous oxide emissions from cropland in the Canadian Prairies and Northern Great Plain USA (DOWNLOAD)
Faezeh Parastesh (2021-2024) A Field Study Comparing Soil Profile N2O Concentration with Surface Fluxes Under Different Farming Practices (DOWNLOAD)
Shannon Mustard (2021-2024) Inhibition of Nitrification Effects on N2O and CO2 Emissions Estimated Using the Flux Gradient Method from Agricultural Soils in Southern Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
M Junaid Afzal (2021-2024) Stabilization of Nitrogen Fertilizers Using Nitrification Inhibitors in Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
Hannah Keenes (2020-2024) Characterization of Manure Management, Nutrient Composition, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cow-Calf Operations in Manitoba (DOWNLOAD)
Katie Webb (2021-2023) Effect of Fall Rye Cover Crop on CO2 and N2O Fluxes Over 4 Years in the Red River Valley, Manitoba, Canada (DOWNLOAD)
Claudia Quilesfogel-Esparza (2020-2023) Estimating Nitrogen Requirement of Grain Corn in Manitoba Using Optical Spectral Reflectance (DOWNLOAD)
Kody Oleson (2019-2023) Advanced 4R nitrogen management options for corn in sandy soils of Manitoba, Canada (DOWNLOAD)
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
Alana Pither (2023) Calibrating Dositube Field Readings to Determine Ammonia Volatilization Rates
Jared Wiens (2022) Quantifying Nitrate Leaching Using a Passive-Wick Lysimeter
Victoria Deakin (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
Last Updated: September 18, 2024