Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Organic Blueberries

Project Lead

Dr. Andrew Black, Professor, Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems (PI)

Dr. Sean Smukler, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Soil Science, Sustainable Agriculture Landscapes Lab, Faculty of Land and Food Systems (PI)

Collaborators

Dr. Namratha Reddy, Kate Hengel, Dr. Maja Krzic, Paul Jassal, Zoran Nesic, Patrick Pow and Paula Porto

Funding

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

About the Project

The aim of this project is to improve the efficiency of nutrient use in organic blueberries. This project compares different mulch and organic fertilizer management strategies for their impact on blueberry yields, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil carbon sequestration. Specifically, mulch and organic fertilizers are evaluated, using either one-time application, granular form or multiple times in irrigation water.

This project is part of a larger five year project entitled “Quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from high value agricultural production systems in British Columbia,” which was awarded $1.8 million in funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). For this project, Drs. Andy Black, Sean Smukler, Rachhpal Jassal and Maja Krzic will also measure the greenhouse gas emissions from potato and forage crops on farms in BC’s Lower Fraser Valley. The results will be shared with researchers, growers, and policymakers alike, and will be one of the first comprehensive studies of GHG emissions in British Columbia.

External Links and Publications

The Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes (SAL) Laboratory

Sean Smukler Bio, People of UBC