Sustainable Agriculture Student Research Project Archive

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Mow and cover: Cover crop management using no-till practices in a market garden Benjamin Alles, 2022 Key result: Covering a mowed cover crop with a tarp instead of tilling reduced time spent weeding in mulched organic cabbage plots.	Poster Paper
Mustard seed meal, black soldier fly frass, spent mushroom manure compost, and Metarhizium brunneum for wireworm management in Hakurei turnips Chelsea Allison, 2021 Key result: No reduction in wireworm damage to turnips was seen after soil treatment with black soldier fly frass, spent mushroom compost, defatted mustard seed meal, or Metarhizium brunneum fungus.	Poster Paper
Effects of wood compost on soil health indicators in an organic loam Sabrina Anderson, 2019 Key result: Wood-based compost boosts active carbon in soil, supporting larger microbial populations and more fungal colonies.	Poster Paper
Effect of mowing on Sphagnum regeneration in a disturbed peat bog Rue Badanic, 2022 Key result: Mowing cessation could promote Sphagnum moss regeneration in the degraded peat bog on Garden City Lands.	Poster Paper
Spent mushroom compost as a replacement for peat in growing media Alex Bisset, 2021 Key result: Aged spent mushroom compost can partially replace peat in seedling growing media without compromising yield. Soil blocks work as well as plastic plug trays.	Poster Paper
Effects of mowing on Sphagnum regeneration in a degraded peat bog Michael Bomford, Rue Badanic, and Jordan Roper, 2023 Key result: Mowing inhibits Sphagnum regeneration in a degraded peat bog.	Poster
Growth substrate effect on lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) mushroom yield Steph Bulman, 2022 Key result: Growth substrate did not affect yield of lion’s mane mushrooms.	Poster Paper
Effects of flax variety and planting density on seed and fibre yield Kayla Buttress, 2024 Key result: Grow flax cultivar ‘Marilyn’ for fibre and ‘Linore x Agatha’ for seed; yields increase with seeding rate.	Poster Paper
Interaction between biochar amendment rate and feather meal fertilizer application on cabbage growth Tobias Carl, 2024 Key result: Biochar amendment did not increase cabbage growth or chlorophyll content.	Poster Paper
Do black plastic mulch and Metarhizium brunneum interact to protect beets from wireworm feeding? Rachel Cassidy, 2022 Key result: Metarhizium brunneum increased beet yield when used with black plastic mulch. No yield benefit was observed when M. brunneum or plastic mulch were used alone.
Wireworm control in scallions: Attract-and-kill tactic using Metarhizium brunneum granules and rolled oats Hazel Chan, 2018 Key result: Soil application of Metarhizium brunneum and rolled oats before transplanting boosted scallion yield and tended to reduce wireworm damage.	Poster Paper
Potential of halophyte phytoextraction for saline soil remediation Sarah-Jane Copeland, 2020 Key result: Salsola, a salt-tolerant salad green, did not reduce salinity associated with spent mushroom compost application any more than salt-sensitive vegetable crops.	Poster Paper
Coconut coir as potting soil alternative to peat: Biochar, wool pellets, and wollastonite as soil amendments Sylka DiBiase, 2024 Key result: Kale seedlings grew better in a blend of peat and coconut coir than in the pure peat or coconut coir.	Poster Paper
Effect of cut seed tubers and Metarhizium brunneum on wireworm damage in potato Lindsay Dodds, 2018 Key result: M. brunneum reduced wireworm damage to potatoes grown from cut seed pieces, but not to those grown from whole seed pieces.	Poster Paper
Effects of laser irradiation, organic fertilizer, and adjuvant on corn and cucumber yield Nikita Ershov, 2020 Key result: Both laser treatment and fertilizer improved yields on their own, but benefits were not additive. Laser benefits were only observed in nutrient-poor environments.	Poster Paper
Effect of Metarhizium brunneum application method on wireworm damage to potato Jenna Graham, 2019 Key result: M. brunneum did not reduce wireworm damage or increase potato yield, regardless of application method.	Poster
Effect of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract and powder on vegetative growth characteristics and foliar nutrient content of Vitis spp. hybrid cv. L’Acadie Blanc Rob Hines, 2020 Key result: Grapevine growth was inhibited by high doses of seaweed powder but not seaweed extract.	Poster Paper
Effect of fine cement sand and zeolite amendment on rye (Secale cereal) biomass accumulation in two local soils Piper Kenney, 2018 Key result: None of the experimental factors had a detectable effect on rye biomass production.	Poster Paper
Effect of intercropping wheat and rye on grain yield and protein content Muhammad Koodoruth, 2023 Key result: Intercropping heritage wheat with rye reduced wheat yield but did not affect protein content.	Poster Paper
Growing medium and fertilizer effects on microgreens Manon Lee, 2023 Key result: Radish microgreens performed best with compost substrate. Fertilizer didn't help.	Poster Paper
Effects of biostimulant and mycorrhizal inoculant applications on dry direct-seeded rice Naomi Mallare, 2024 Key result: Dryland rice production was enhanced by Gaia Green fertilizer, but not by Mykos Gold, Yeast Guard, or Tecamin MAX biostimulants.	Poster Paper
Spent mushroom substrate for water conservation in squash production Maria Jose Santander Mercado, 2020 Key result: Mulching with spent mushroom compost retains moisture and boosts spaghetti squash yield.	Poster Paper
Intercropping dryland rice and greens for weed suppression Nhi Nguyen, 2023 Key result: Intercropping dryland rice with spinach and turnip did not improve land use efficiency or reduce weed pressure.	Poster Paper
Seed and oil yield from canola in Richmond, BC C. J. Nyereyegona, 2021 Key result: Excellent canola seed and oil yields were obtained from early, mid, and late spring planting dates.	Poster Paper
Fresh spent mushroom compost mulch effect on bean, broccoli, salsola, and squash growth, weed suppression, and broccoli yield James Oswald, 2020 Key result: Spent mushroom compost mulch suppresses weeds but not vegetables.	Poster Paper
The effect of layering soil over degraded peatlands on carbon dioxide emissions Talia Parfeniuk, 2024 Key result: A layer of mineral soil over disturbed peat reduced soil respiration.	Poster Paper
Early application of Metarhizium brunneum for management of wireworm in popcorn, Zea mays var. everta James Reinert, 2020 Key result: Soil treatment with Metarhizium brunneum fungus before planting did not reduce wireworm survival or improve popcorn yield.	Poster Paper
Leaf mold as renewable alternative to peat in seed starting media Rosina Rodighiero, 2019 Key result: A blend of leaf mold, compost, and vermiculite successfully replaced the peat and vermiculite blend commonly used in vegetable transplant production.	Poster Paper
Dose response of basil and kale seedlings to black soldier fly frass in growing media Oliver Rondou, 2023 Key result: Black soldier fly frass concentration in growing media is inversely correlated with seedling growth.	Poster
Efficacy of fungicides available for powdery mildew control in certified organic squash production Jordan Roper, 2019 Key result: Baking soda, milk, and Bacillus subtilis all slowed the spread of powdery mildew on organic squash.	Poster Paper
Evaluation of eleven summer cover crops for suitability to southwest British Columbia Angeli dela Rosa, 2018 Key result: Mustards gave superior soil cover while sorghum sudangrass produced at least as much biomass as mustards. Legumes produced the least biomass among crops tested.	Poster Paper
Effect of pre-germination laser treatment on lettuce cultivated in a controlled environment Ethan Simonyi-Gindele, 2021 Key result: Pre-germination laser seed treatment does not affect lettuce growth in a vertical farm.	Poster Paper
Season extension of ever-bearing strawberry in the Pacific Northwest Alexander G. B. Stark, 2018 Key result: Spring flowering of ever-bearing strawberries was three weeks earlier when plants were grown under row covers and low tunnels.	Poster Paper
Using agrovoltaics to shade bok choy varieties Amanda Tam, 2023 Key result: Electricity compensates for bok choy yield loss in agrovoltaic systems.	Poster Paper
Yield effect of flax (Linum usitatissimum) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) intercropping Moira Tarry, 2022 Key result: Dual purpose flax and chickpea had greater land output in mixed plantings than in monocultures. Flax dominated mixtures.	Poster Paper
Effects of flooding and paper mulch on Fraser Valley rice Wendel Vistan, 2023 Key result: Rice yield was higher in flooded paddies than dry field plots and was unaffected by paper mulch.	Poster Paper
Trialing edamame varieties and mulch in Richmond, B.C. Naomi Waite, 2024 Key result: Mulch enhances edamame survival and yield.	Poster Paper
Impact of in-row living mulches on tree growth, soil moisture and weed management in an organic high-intensity apple orchard Francisca Weeks, 2024 Key result: Microclover living mulch established rapidly in orchard rows to inhibit weeds and retain soil moisture.	Poster Paper
Cucumber response to black and silver mulches Jacob Wen, 2023 Key result: Black mulch favours 'Tasty Green' cucumber; reflective favours persistent yield.	Poster Paper
Living and non-living mulch effects on ground beetles and weeds in a new apple orchard Harrison Wu, 2023 Key result: Alyssum living mulch suppresses weeds during orchard establishment but does not affect ground beetle biodiversity.	Poster Paper

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Sustainable Agriculture Student Research Project Archive

Filter by year:2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

Effect of fine cement sand and zeolite amendment on rye (Secale cereal) biomass accumulation in two local soils

Evaluation of eleven summer cover crops for suitability to southwest British Columbia

Season extension of ever-bearing strawberry in the Pacific Northwest

Funding and Support:

Filter by year:
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024