Agroclimatology
Matt Ball
Agroecology research, in the context of climate change.
mball1(at)ualberta.ca
@Agroclimatology
Bio
I am currently a soil science PhD student at the University of Alberta. I hold a main focus on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and related climate change resilience. My research primarily involves working with both greenhouse gas flux data alongside mathematical ecosystem and crop models to inform the sustainable management of agroecosystems.
Research Interests
Agricultural Climate Change Contributions & Impacts
Improving understandings of greenhouse gas emissions from agroecosystems, alongside climate change impacts on agriculture itself. Primarily focused on nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from perennial crops in the context of varying agricultural management techniques - notably, the application of differing nitrogen fertilisers and inhibitors. Alongside, evaluation of the standalone impacts of such management techniques - mainly focusing upon crop yield and soil health. All appreciated within the overarching context of a warming climate, with projected climate change impacts on varying soil types and crops also being of notable interest.
Climate, Crop & Ecosystem Modelling
Numerical climate modelling on global to local scales, working with GCMs and RCMs where appropriate. Working primarily with downscaled CMIP5/6 climate projections and evaluating climate conditions under the different SSPs. Primarily applied to determining key future agricultural factors on regional to national scales. With modelled projections of said climate variables serving as key inputs in crop and ecosystem modelling (i.e. DSSAT and DNDC models).
Journal Articles
Modelled climate change impacts on spring canola production across British Columbia, Canada
Scheduled for publication, 2024
September, 2022
October, 2021
April, 2021
August, 2020
Media Coverage
Presentations
8th Annual Graduate Research Symposium of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences - “Modelling the Dual Impact of Climate Change on Potato Productivity and Associated Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Southern Alberta”
March, 202460th Alberta Soil Science Workshop - “How bedding preparation and irrigation management govern potato productivity and greenhouse gas emissions in Southern Alberta”
February, 202422nd Bentley Lecture in Sustainable Agriculture - “Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Potato Production with Nitrogen and Irrigation Inputs: A Meta-Analysis”
February, 2024Irrigated Crop Production Update 2024 - "Impact of Bedding Time, Winter Cover Cropping, and Irrigation on Potato Yield, GHG Emissions and Soil Erosion in Southern Alberta"
January, 2024RDAR 2nd Annual Research Showcase - "Impact of Bedding Time, Winter Cover Cropping, and Irrigation on Potato Yield, GHG Emissions and Soil Erosion in Southern Alberta"
January, 2024REN R Graduate Seminar - "The impact of Fall Bedded Potato Production on Yield, N2O & CO2 Fluxes and Soil Nitrogen Dynamics in Southern Alberta"
September, 202310th SCAR Open Science Conference 2022 - "An analysis of how deep-sea sediments and ice cores provide a record of Quaternary climate change"
August, 2022UAI Research Placement 3MT - "Greenhouse gas emissions from Perennial Wheat"
July, 2022
Second International NatRiskChange Conference 2021 - "An analysis of the problems with electoral politics in an age of climate change"
October, 2021
Research photos
A short collection of photos of past research, both in the field and the lab.
