Regions: Dehcho Region
Tags: physical sciences, soil, food security
| Principal Investigator: | Jakiela, Kevin (1) |
| Licence Number: | 15892 |
| Organization: | University of Toronto |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2016
|
| Issued: | May 27, 2016 |
| Project Team: | Kevin Jakiela, Igor Lehnherr |
Objective(s): To perform soil analysis (for composition) and research parameters in Geodome on the Northern Farm Training Institute farm.
Project Description: The objective is to perform soil analysis (for composition) and researching parameters in Geodome on the Northern Farm Training Institute (NFTI) farm such as: air temp, relative humidity, light intensity, albedo, soil moisture/saturation and temperature. This analysis will help NFTI to figure out optimal growing conditions inside the greenhouse to optimize crop growth and yields. The research team will make predictions and recommendations to optimal growing for sustainable practices for future growing seasons. The goal is to make recommendations about soil/parameters in geodome for optimal growing for seasons to come. Soil will be sampled using a soil core sampler of native Hay River soil as a baseline and then compared to the same soil with added nutrients (compost and/or fertilizer additions). This is to address nutrient deficiencies and to analyze what composition of soil is best for each crop. Sensors for light, RH, air temp, soil temp/moisture/saturation will be deployed in the geodome for the growing season which is approx. 5 months or so. All readings for all parameters will be taken by these sensors and instruments at 15min intervals, each day, for the entire growing season to get accurate and representative data of conditions on greenhouse. This data will help NFTI become profitable (self-fund) by increasing crop yields through research. People will be educated NFTI courses in the science and technical aspect to why this matters/best practices for sustainable growth. This research intends to promote and encourage the concept of agriculture and to consider and discuss all subjects affecting it. Research results will be communicated to the community and partners with NTFI in Hay River through email, fax, and/or mail. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from May 27, 2016 to September 30, 2016.
