Dr. Mehdi Sharifi

Image Mehdi Sharifi
Research Scientist

My research activities are focused on enhancing the environmental sustainability and resilience of perennial horticultural crops through ground cover management and used of organic amendments. My interest extend to propagation and ethno-agronomy of Indigenous food plant species.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Summerland, British Columbia

Current research and/or projects

My research contributes to integrated nutrient management and Indigenous cultivation sciences and their relevant policies and technologies.

Research and/or project statements

  1. Understanding Indigenous food systems and revitalizing key Indigenous food plants in Interior and Coastal regions of British Columbia; 2019-2022.

  2. Unique cover crops, rootstocks, and irrigation techniques for Canadian vineyards. 2018-2023.

  3. Water and nutrient management strategies, and health promoting natural products can reduce the competition between grapevine and cover crops and enhance health and productivity of vineyards. 2018-2023.

  4. Impacts of adverse temperature and water conditions on fruit set in sweet cherry in the early growing season; 2018-2023.

Professional activities / interests

Research interest:

  • Sustainable Agriculture

  • Nutrient Management in Field and Horticultural Crops

  • Cover Crops

  • Ethno-Agronomy

  • Indigenous Cultivation

  • Soil Health Assessment tools

  • Soil and Plant Testing

  • Organic Amendments Management

  • Use of Biowaste and Industrial By-Products as Soil Amendment

 

I supervise graduate students.

I contribute to policy development relevant to area of my expertise.

 

Education and awards

2004 Ph.D. Soil Science – specialization in Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, Soil Science Department, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. Thesis title: “Nitrogen uptake as related to potato root characteristics

1999 M.Sc., Soil Science – specialization in Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Soil Science Department, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. Thesis title: “Selection of suitable extractant to extract available potassium for corn in soils of central region of Isfahan, Iran”

1995 B.Sc., Soil Science, Soil Science Department, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.

 

International experience and/or work

 

09/2004-02/2005, Assistant Professor, Soil Science Department, College of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.

 

09/2003-09/2004, Lecturer, Soil fertility and fertilizers, Soil Science Department, College of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.

 

05/2002-03/2003, Visiting PhD Student, Potato Research Centre, Fredericton, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, New Brunswick. Canada.

Project title: “Reduced nitrate leaching in Russet Norkotah potato production”

 

09/2000-09/2001, Teaching Assistant, Advanced soil chemistry, Soil Science Department, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.

Key publications

  1. 13th International Vaccinium Symposium Halifax

    2024 - View publication details

  2. Stephanie et al. 2024. Avalanche Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum) Seed Germination Experiment. COOP Report. University of Victoria, BC, Canada

    2024 - View publication details

  3. Burlakoti R. R., Podile C., and Sharifi, M. 2023. Revitalization of key native berry Crops: disease monitoring and sustainable management. Poster presented at Seabird Island Band Quarterly Open House meeting on October 18, 2023, Seabird Island, BC.

    2023 - View publication details

  4. Xu, Hao, Danielle Ediger, and Mehdi Sharifi. 2023. "Horticultural Practices in Early Spring to Mitigate the Adverse Effect of Low Temperature on Fruit Set in ‘Lapins’ Sweet Cherry" Plants 12, no. 3: 468. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030468

    2023 - View publication details

  5. Bejaei, M., Sharifi, M., Wolk, B., Zolfaghari, Z., Slamka S. (2023, February). Research Update, Fruitlet Study (ASP 160) - Fruit Sensory Characteristics. BC Cherry Association AGM, Kelowna, BC.

    2023 - View publication details

  6. Burlakoti RR, Podile C, Novinscak A, and Sharifi M. 2023 Understanding and management of diseases of key native berry crops. Presented at AAFC and Seabird Island Band Project Review Meeting on January 30, 2023.

    2023 - View publication details

  7. Franklin, M.T., Uriel, Y., Gibson, M., Mitchell, T., Telford, G., Burlakoti, R., Marshall, V., Ensing, D., Moffat, C., and M. Sharifi. 2023. Identification of insect pest threats and plant communities associated with culturally significant berries on the Seabird Island lands. Project Report 2021-2022.

    2023 - View publication details

  8. Burlakoti RR, Podile C, Novinscak A, and Sharifi M. 2023. Understanding and management of diseases of key native berry crops. Presented at AAFC and Seabird Island Band Project Review Meeting on January 30, 2023.

    2023 - View publication details

  9. Sharifi et al. 2023. Accelerating the development of sustainable pest management practices to support Indigenous food systems in British Columbia. WFN Project report.

    2023 - View publication details

  10. Sharifi et al. 2022. Revitalizing knowledge of scwicw’s growing conditions, propagation and preservation. NIB Project report.

    2022 - View publication details

  11. Sharifi, M., C Moffat, D. Ensing, S. Debnath, J. MacDonald, J. Pollard-Flamand, K. Fong, L. Malunga, S. Joseph, V. Marshall, B. Rabie, T. Nelson, C. Harlton, and D. Martin. 2022. Revitalizing knowledge of scwicw’s growing conditions, propagation and preservation. Report to Neskonlith Indian Band.

    2022 - View publication details

  12. Sharifi et al. 2022. Scwicw (Avalanche Lily) Ecology, Propagation, Nutritional value and Preservation. Presentation to NIB Chief and Council.

    2022 - View publication details

  13. Burlakoti RR, Novinscak A, and Sharifi M. 2023. Understanding the diseases of key native berry crops-steps toward revitalization. Poster Presented at Seabird Island Band open house in Seabird on August 31, 2023.

    2022 - View publication details

  14. Proper balanced nutrition is important in all crops; however, knowing what the right nutrient needed at the right time for the right reasons with the right product can be very different between commodities, orchards, and seasons. There are several different sampling methods that can be utilized to assess the nutrient status of a block and help aid in nutrient management decisions. The main assessment methods are leaf, fruitlet, and soil analysis. There are some other techniques, such as sap analysis, that are being tested and may be more available in the future.

    2021 - View publication details

  15. Whalen, J.K., B.W. Thomas, M. Sharifi. 2019. Novel practices and smart technologies to maximize the nitrogen fertilizer value of manure for crop production in cold humid temperate regions. Advances in Agronomy 153:1–85.

    2019 - View publication details

  16. Thomas, B.W., Hunt, D., Bittman, S., Hannam, K.D., Messiga, A.J., Haak, D., Sharifi, M., Hao, X. (2019). Soil health indicators after 21 yr of no-tillage in South Coastal British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, [online] 99(2), 222-225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjss-2018-0146

    2019 - View publication details

  17. Sharifi, M., Lynch, D., Burton, D.L., Papadopoulos, Y.A., Main, M. (2019). Quantifying the short-term contribution of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) to soil carbon using13 C natural abundance technique in a sandy loam soil in eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, [online] 99(2), 217-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjss-2018-0145

    2019 - View publication details

  18. Sharifi, M., Carter, K., Baker, S., Verhallen, A. and Nemeth, D. (2018). Cover crops effects on grape yield and yield quality, and soil nitrate concentration in three vineyards in Ontario, Canada. Acta Hortic. 1217, 247-256
    DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1217.31
    https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1217.31

    2018 - View publication details

  19. Thomas, B.W.*, J.K. Whalen, M. Sharifi, M.H. Chantigny, X. Hao. 2018. Nitrogen mineralization in sandy loam and silty clay soils receiving liquid swine and dairy cattle manure. Joint Annual Meeting of Canadian Geophysical Union-Canadian Soil Science Society-Computational Infrastructure in Geodynamics-Eastern Section of the Seismological Society of America-Canadian Society for Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. Niagara Falls, ON, Canada. June 10–14, 2018.

    2018 - View publication details

  20. Alam, M.Z., Lynch, D.H., Sharifi, M., Burton, D.L., and Hammermeister, A.M. (2016). "The effect of green manure and organic amendments on potato yield, nitrogen uptake and soil mineral nitrogen.", Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. doi : 10.1080/01448765.2015.1133319

    2016 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Summerland Research and Development Centre
4200 Highway #97
Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Agriculture-environment interactions
Agriculture›Agronomy
Agriculture›Crops›Alternative crops and diversification
Agriculture›Crops›Nitrogen cycling
Agriculture›Ecology›Soil
Agriculture›Horticulture›Agronomy
Agriculture›Potatoes
Agriculture›Soil science›Management of mineral fertilizers
Agriculture›Soil science›Manure and slurry management
Agriculture›Soil science›Nutrient cycling
Agriculture›Soil science›Nutrient management
Agriculture›Soil science›Soil and crop nitrogen cycling
Agriculture›Soil science›Soil management
Agriculture›Soil science›Soil nutrients
Agriculture›Viticulture›Wine

Affiliations

Adjunct Professor, Biology Department, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus

Language

English

Other languages

Persian