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Memberships and Affiliations

• President-Elect Canadian Society of Soil Science
• Associate Editor Canadian Journal of Soil Science
• Member of Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists
• Member of the Soil Science Society of America

This lab provides analytical support for the measurement of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) in stored samples. This provides a cost-effective means of measuring greenhouse gas emissions from a wide range of ecosystems.

What do I Teach?

•I teach the undergraduate courses: – Introduction to Soil Science, – Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, and – Air, Climate, and Climate Change.
•I teach the graduate courses: – Soil Microbiology, – Environmental Soil Chemistry, AGRI 6700 – Advanced Research Methods
•I instruct a non-credit Nutrient Management Certificate
•I am an Investigator in the project
•I lead the development of a Certificate in Sustainable Soil Management

What do I Research?

My research examines the role of the soil environment in influencing the nature and extent of microbial metabolism in soil.  It focuses on processes in the nitrogen cycle and their implications for soil fertility and environmental impact. My current research examines the production and consumption of greenhouse gases in natural and agricultural landscapes, the development of tools for the measurement of soil nitrogen supply to plants, influence of climate on soil biological processes, and the assessment of soil health.

•You can find a list of my publications on
•I am the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Soil Management
•Derek Lynch and I established the Atlantic Soil Health Lab
•For the past two decades my lab manager (Drucie Janes) and I have provided analytical support for multiple research projects examining greenhouse gas emissions through the Greenhouse Gas Lab

How do I Serve?

I am a strong believer in the importance of consideration of the state of the soil resource in land management decisions. I have been active over the last three decades in various expert panels and committees that attempt to bring science to policies relating to land use. Currently I am involved in the following groups:

•I am a Fellow of the
•I was a member of Task Force for a Resilient Recovery in Agriculture
•Member of ’s Climate Farming Advisory Committee
•I serve on ’s Soil Carbon Roadmap Advisory Board
•I am a member of ’s and 4R Science Panel

What I do

Do give you a sense of what I do, please clink on the following links to recent presentations/interviews relating to soil management and my work

• , Faculty of Agriculture Marketing Campaign
•Life Under our Feet, Presentation to the Royal Winter Fair, 2016
•Our Nitrogen Problem, Presentation to PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association, 2016
•Soil Health our Climate Change Solution, Presentation to the McGill Sustainability Symposium, 2020
•Is regenerative farming hope for a hotter planet?, What on Earth, CBC, 2020
•Measurement-based tools to quantify soil nitrogen supply and verify right rate recommendations, Presentation to the Canadian Society of Soil Science, 2021
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•Soil Health & Nitrogen Management with Dr. Burton, Presentation to the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
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