Posted July 23, 2010

The Project:
Utilizing marginal and agriculturally exhausted lands for forage and biomass production has potential to increase property value, diversify income sources and offset carbon dioxide emissions. Alley cropping, the planting of crops in the alleyways between widely spaced rows of trees, is one of the agroforestry systems that have been very successful with biomass production on marginal sites through microclimate amelioration. However, apart from shelterbelts systems, little is known about the ecological sustainability of agroforestry systems in the Prairies Provinces. A project examining ecological processes through which alley cropping systems can improve site productivity has been established at Indian Head Saskatchewan. One M.Sc. position is available to evaluate above- and belowground mechanisms of resource partitioning between sea buckthorn and alfalfa to determine if ameliorated site conditions, especially soil moisture, in the alleyways impact yield and nutrition of alfalfa.

Qualifications:
Applicants must be highly motivated to pursue a research career, be self-reliant and have excellent oral and written communication skills. Candidates must have a B.S.A. or B.Sc. in soil science, agriculture, forestry, environmental sciences or in a related field, and he/she must meet all of the requirements for acceptance into the M.Sc. program in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan.

Starting Date: September 1, 2010.

How to Apply:
Submit your application on-line at the College of Graduate Studies and Research website: http://www.usask.ca/cgsr/prospective_students/apply.php. Send your supporting documents to Graduate Secretary Department of Soil Science, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7S 5A8, Canada. General inquiries regarding the graduate program in Soil Science should be directed to the Graduate Secretary: soilsc_gradstudies@usask.ca.