Page 232 - PC2019 Program & Proceedings

PLANT CANADA 2019

P37. Exploring the potential of implementing pollinator friendly cover crop species in Southern
Ontario.
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Radcliffe, K. ; E. Lee; M. Raizada; B. Deen; N. Raine
University of Guelph

Pollinators provide ecological services crucial to the growth and development of many economically
valuable crops. Research widely indicates a decline in both pollinator abundance and diversity across the
agricultural landscape. In response the Ontario government developed a Pollinator Health Action Plan
with the mandate of creating one million hectares of pollinator habitat. In Europe, strategies have been
implemented to enhance pollinator habitat through the creation of semi-native habitats on marginal land.
While margin plantings have been relatively successful, other research now suggests that the availability
of mass flowering crops may have a greater impact on pollinator populations. What are some possible
strategies for creating pollinator habitats within the agricultural landscape of SW Ontario, with particular
attention to fall habitat? Is it possible to utilize cover crop species as a pollinator habitat, as they are
abundant and relatively affordable? To address these questions, we are examining the potential of
integrating these pollinator friendly species following winter wheat as a cover crop or as floral strips
planted along field margins throughout the growing season. Preliminary results indicate that having a
mix may be beneficial in attracting a larger diversity of pollinators and that the marginal land plantings
may be more feasible in terms of coordinating fall flowering periods with crop rotations in Southern
Ontario.

Kirsten Radcliffe (kradclif@uoguelph.ca)

P38. Stubble affects genetic potential for inorganic nitrogen cycling by root associated microbiomes
of oilseed crops
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1
Wang, L. ; Y. Gan ; L. Bainard ; C. Hamel ; M. St-Arnaud ; M. Hijri
1 Université de Montréal and Jardin botanique de Montréal
2 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
3 Swift Current Research and Development Centre
4 Université de Montréal and Jardin botanique de Montréal, Montréal
Crop stubble may affect inorganic N-cycling pathways in soil as it influences microbial communities in
plant roots and rhizosphere. Field experiments were conducted in the Canadian Prairies with five oilseed
crops preceded by wheat, lentil or summerfallow in rotations. Seven microbial genes involved in N-
cycling were quantified using RT-qPCR to determine gene expression for different pathways. The results
showed a higher expression of archaeal amoA in rhizosphere microbiomes, while nif H, bacterial amoA,
nxr A, nir S and nos Z had higher expression in roots. The highest overall expression of nif H and nxr A
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genes were found in oilseeds grown following lentil, which suggests more NH4 and NO3 were derived
with lentil. Bacterial amoA, nir S and nir K gene expression were highest in the B. carinata and lowest in
the C. sativa microbiome, which suggests a higher potential for N2O emissions with B. carinata. In root
microbiomes, nif H gene expression had a positive correlation with oilseed yield and plant biomass, and
negative correlation with bacterial amoA gene expression. In rhizosphere microbiomes, nif H and
archaeal amoA gene expression were positively correlated, while bacterial amoA gene expression was
positively correlated with nxr A and nos Z genes expression and plant biomass. This study showed that
stubble from previous crops affects N-cycling pathways and the magnitude of the effect varies with
oilseed crops.

Li Wang (li.wang.3@umontreal.ca)

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