Evan Derdall, M.Sc., P.Eng

Image Evan Derdall
Biosystems Engineer

Research and development engineer in the area of agricultural water management.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Saskatoon Research and Development Centre

Current research and/or projects

Improved environmental performance and agricultural productivity – improved management strategies in response to crop stress to utilize water resources in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Research and/or project statements

  • Online decision support tool for precision agriculture and irrigation scheduling
  • Development of variable rate irrigation watering prescriptions
  • Improved adoption of variable rate irrigation
  • Evaluation of microwave radiometric sensors for monitoring soil moisture
  • Woodchip bioreactors for nutrient removal from tile drainage water

Education and awards

B.Sc. Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 2005

M.Sc. Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 2008

Clinton L. Armstrong Award - top Agricultural and Bioreasources engineering graduate in the area of soil and water - University of Saskatchewan (2005)

AAFC Gold Harvest Award - Innovation, Collaboration and Service Excellence - Leamington Drip Irrigation Project (2009)

International experience and/or work

  • Organizing committee - 2018 International Conference of the International Commission of on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID)
  • Partner with the Agriculture Water Management Team of the United States in the development and promotion of agricultural drainage water management technologies and practices.
  • Collabration with Australia and Chile in utlizing remote sensing technologies in the management of irrigation water.

Key publications

  1. Arcand, Y., Bittman, S., Britten, M., Champagne, C., Daneshfar, B., David, S., Davidson, A., Derdall, E. Drury, C., Eden, J., Handyside, P., Hung, Y., Javorek, S., Jiang, Y., Jingui, Y., Jordan, C., Joosse, P., Li, S., McAuley, E., McNairn, H., MacDonald, D., Pacheco, A., Powers, J., Reid, K., Smith, E. L., Topp, E., Vanrobaeys, J., Villeneuve, S., Wilson, H., Yang, J. Agricultural Land Use. Synthesis of Science. Canada Water Agency Report. Freshwater Science Assessment-Line of Inquiry. Nov. 20, 2020.

    2020 - View publication details

  2. Jeyakumar, L., McKenzie, D.B., Molloy, W., Bittman, S., Hunt, D., Galagedara, L., Derdall, E. 2017. Simulating subsurface tile drainage water outflow using DRAINMOD in Atlantic Canada. Joint Annual Meeting of American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, 22-25 Oct, Tampa, FL. Presentation abstract 201-13. https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2017am/webprogram/Paper108588.html

    2017 - View publication details

  3. Jeyakumar, L., McKenzie, D.B., Murphy, P., Bittman, S., Wiseman, D., Derdall, E. 2017. Performance evaluation of four field-scale denitrification wood chip bioreactors treating agricultural tile drainage water in a cold climate. ASABE Annual International Meeting, 16-19 Jul, Spokane, WA. Presentation abstract 1700628.

    2017 - View publication details

  4. McKenzie, D.B., *Jeyakumar, L., Murphy, P., Bittman, S., Hobrecker, K., Derdall, E. 2017. Design of wood chip denitrification bioreactors treating nitrate-N from agricultural drainage. ASABE Annual International Meeting, 16-19 Jul, Spokane, WA. Presentation abstract 1700637.

    2017 - View publication details

  5. Jeyakumar, L*; McKenzie, DB; Derdall, Bishop, G. 2016. Treatment of Agricultural Tile Drainage Water in a Pilot-Scale Woodchip Bioreactor System. 3rd Biennial Agriculture Research Symposium, St. John’s, Canada.

    2016 - View publication details

  6. Jeyakumar, L*; McKenzie, DB; Smith, E; Derdall, E; Zhang, H; Unc, A; Galagedara, L; Todd, S; Bishop, G. 2016. Overview of Development of Novel Woodchip Bioreactor System to Reduce Pollution Effects of Agricultural Tile Drainage Water, 3rd Biennial Agriculture Research Symposium, St. John’s, Canada. poster

    2016 - View publication details

  7. McKenzie, DB*; Jeyakumar, L; Derdall, E; Bishop, G. 2016. Optimizing nitrate removal in woodchip beds treating agricultural tile-drained water. The 58th Annual Farm Field day, St. John’s Research and Development Centre, St. John’s, NL, Canada. Poster

    2016 - View publication details

  8. Jeyakumar, L., McKenzie, D.B., E. Derdall and G.A. Bishop. 2015. “Woodchip Bioreactors-Installation/Operation” St. John’s Bioreactor - First Phase. 57th Annual Farm Field Day, St. John’s, NL, Canada, August 8, 2015, Presentation. (Poster)

    2015 - View publication details

  9. McKenzie, D.B., L. Jeyakumar, E. Derdall and G.A. Bishop. 2015. Hungry Bacteria Magically Remove Nitrates from Water. 57th Annual Farm Field Day, St. John’s, NL, Canada, August 8, 2015, Presentation. (Poster)

    2015 - View publication details

  10. Jeyakumar, L., McKenzie, D.B., E. Derdall and G.A. Bishop. 2015. “Woodchip Bioreactors for Drainage Water Treatment”. 57th Annual Farm Field Day, St. John’s, NL, Canada, August 8, 2015, Presentation. (Poster)

    2015 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Saskatoon Research and Development Centre
107 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X2
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Agro-Ecosystem productivity and health
Agriculture›Engineering›Irrigation and drainage
Agriculture›Water›Water management
Agriculture›Water›Water resource management

Affiliations

  • P.Eng. Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan
  • Canadian Partner, Agricultural Water Management (AGWAM) Team of the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS)
  • Member, Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA)
  • Member, Canadian Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (CANCID)

Language

English