Biophysical interactions in agricultural systems across environmental gradients

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Innovative approaches to agriculture production will minimize a host of current challenges: misuse of fertilizers; soil and water contamination; land-use change. Indeed, there is rising interest in critical perspectives for such complex environmental problems. My research group and I respond to this need for research by examining alternative systems of agricultural production using novel techniques to quantify agroecosystem dynamics. My research program addresses important gaps in our understanding of plant traits and the nutrient economy of diverse agroecological systems. Broadly, my most significant research contributions have furthered our understanding of alternative systems of production by identifying agroecosystem dynamics that are beneficial to such systems. New research under this NSERC Discovery Grant Program will advance strategies to achieve important management prescriptions in both an Ontario and international agricultural context. Specifically, my contributions from this research program proposal will i) chart previously unreported interspecific interactions in multi-species systems, ii) develop new research tools to overcome limitations in describing belowground processes, iii) advance our understanding of plant-mediated nutrient supply in agriculture, and iv) illustrate interdisciplinary environmental research. This proposed integrated research is unique to Canada and extremely opportune, as rigorous scientific information is urgently needed at the intersection of food security, conservation, and sustainable development.  Over the next five years, I will address three objectives: 1) Elucidate key dimensions of the nutrient economy of agroecosystems by examining plant-mediated nutrient acquisition and transfer processes under various abiotic stressors. 2) Assess local-scale environmental effects, specifically soil fertility, on plant functional traits and key trait syndromes. 3) Develop novel research tools, namely ground-penetrating radar, for detecting belowground processes in agroecosystems. The combination of fundamental principles, experimental techniques, and application renders this research program highly suitable for attracting and training of undergraduate and graduate students as well as prospective post-doctoral fellows. I strive to create a collaborative research environment and will delivery effective mentorship to all my HQP. My previous publication record with my students, my current student accomplishments and the high success of my students to secure employment in the environmental field (from private sector to university professorships) provides motivating evidence of my ability to create an encouraging, adaptable and successful training environment.