Student researchers

Students plan, conduct, analyze, and present an applied experimental research project over the course of three semesters.

Sustainable Agriculture Student Research Project Archive

Research Progression

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Growing medium and fertilizer effects on microgreens

Manon Lee, 2023

  • Key result: Radish microgreens performed best with compost substrate. Fertilizer didn't help.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Using agrovoltaics to shade bok choy varieties

Amanda Tam, 2023

  • Key result: Electricity compensates for bok choy yield loss in agrovoltaic systems.

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.

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.

Cucumber response to black and silver mulches

Jacob Wen, 2023

  • Key result: Black mulch favours 'Tasty Green' cucumber; reflective favours persistent yield.

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.

Funding and Support:

City of Richmond
CubicFarms logo
Enterra logoHighline Mushrooms
KPU Student-Led Research GrantsOrganic Path International
Organic Science Cluster III
osake-craft-sake-logo