Francis J. Larney

Image Francis Larney
Research Scientist

Soil conservation

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Lethbridge, AB

Current research and/or projects

Current research projects focus on soil health, soil erosion and productivity, soil reclamation, beef feedlot manure management, organic amendments, and dryland and irrigated cropping systems.

Research and/or project statements

1. Integrating multiple beneficial management practices (BMPs) in organic cropping systems: Soil health, weed and insect interactions.

2. Assessment of occurrence of synthetic hormones (melengestrol acetate & trenbolone acetate) and beta agonist (ractopamine) in cattle operations and associated environments.

3. Optimizing agroecosystems resiliency – Systems productivity, resilience and sustainability in the major Canadian ecozones.

4. Use of legume crops to enhance N use efficiency, carbon sequestration, soil health and soil biodiversity in three ecoregions chosen to represent the different climatic conditions of Canada.

5. Resilient crop-livestock systems – Unravelling C and N stabilization and restitution mechanisms in manured soils.

Professional activities / interests

Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 1995-2004

Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, 2010-16

Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 2015-18

Education and awards

B.Agr.Sc., General Agriculture, The National University of Ireland (University College Dublin), 1979

M.Agr.Sc., Soil Science, The National University of Ireland (University College Dublin), 1981

Ph.D., Soil Science, The National University of Ireland (University College Dublin), 1985

Fellow Award, Canadian Society of Soil Science, 2010

Fellow Award, Soil Science Society of America, 2012

Canadian Society of Agronomy, Best Paper Award, Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 2017

Outstanding Reviewer Award, Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 2017

Canadian Society for Horticultural Science, Best Paper Award, Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 2018

International experience and/or work

Visiting Scientist, Dept. of Land & Water Conservation, Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia, 1997-98

Key publications

  1. Lupwayi, N.Z., Larney, F.J., Blackshaw, R.E., Kanashiro, D.A., Pearson, D.C. (2017). Phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers show positive soil microbial community responses to conservation soil management of irrigated crop rotations. Soil & Tillage Research, [online] 168 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2016.12.003

    2017 - View publication details

  2. Khakbazan, M., Larney, F.J., Huang, J., Mohr, R., Pearson, D.C., Blackshaw, R.E. (2017). Energy Use Efficiency of Conventional versus Conservation Management Practices for Irrigated Potato Production in Southern Alberta. American Journal of Potato Research, [online] 94(2), 105-119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-016-9551-3

    2017 - View publication details

  3. Thomas, B.W., Larney, F.J., Chantigny, M.H., Goyer, C., Hao, X. (2017). Fall rye reduced residual soil nitrate and dryland spring wheat grain yield. Agronomy Journal, [online] 109(2), 718-728. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2016.10.0616

    2017 - View publication details

  4. Khakbazan, M., Larney, F.J., Huang, J., Mohr, R.M., Pearson, D.C., Blackshaw, R.E. (2017). Economics of conventional and conservation practices for irrigated dry bean rotations in southern Alberta. Agronomy Journal, [online] 109(2), 576-587. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2016.08.0480

    2017 - View publication details

  5. Thomas, B.W., Hao, X., Larney, F.J., Goyer, C., Chantigny, M.H., Charles, A. (2017). Non-legume cover crops can increase non-growing season nitrous oxide emissions. Soil Science Society of America Journal, [online] 81(1), 189-199. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2016.08.0269

    2017 - View publication details

  6. Miller, J., Beasley, B., Drury, C., Larney, F., Hao, X. (2017). Surface Soil Salinity and Soluble Salts after 15 Applications of Composted or Stockpiled Manure with Straw or Wood-Chips. Compost Science & Utilization, [online] 25(1), 36-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2016.1176968

    2017 - View publication details

  7. Miller, J.J., Beasley, B.W., Drury, C.F., Larney, F.J., Hao, X., Chanasyk, D.S. (2017). Influence of long-term application of feedlot amendments to cropland on ground elevation, Ah horizon depth, and soil color. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, [online] 97(2), 109-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjss-2016-0056

    2017 - View publication details

  8. Larney, F.J., Pearson, D.C., Blackshaw, R.E., Lupwayi, N.Z. (2017). Soil changes over 12 yr of conventional vs. conservation management on irrigated rotations in Southern Alberta. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, [online] 97(2), 249-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjss-2016-0141

    2017 - View publication details

  9. Stoeckli, J., Thomas, B.W., Hao, X., Larney, F.J., Chantigny, M.H., and Goyer, C. (2016). "Water-extractable organic C, ammonium and nitrate dynamics over two non-growing seasons in response to cover crop species and fertilizer source.", 2016 Alberta Soil Science Workshop, Grand Prairies, AB, Canada, February 16-18, 2016. (Abstract)

    2016 - View publication details

  10. Yanni, S.F., Janzen, H.H., Gregorich, E.G., Ellert, B.H., Larney, F.J., Olson, B.M., Zvomuya, F. (2016). Organic carbon convergence in diverse soils toward steady state: A 21-year field bioassay. Soil Science Society of America Journal, [online] 80(6), 1653-1662. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2016.07.0214

    2016 - View publication details

  11. Larney, F.J., Nitschelm, J.J., Regitnig, P.J., Pearson, D.C., Blackshaw, R.E. and Lupwayi, N.Z. 2016. Sugar beet response to rotation and soil management in a 12-year irrigated study in southern Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 96: 776–789.

    2016 - View publication details

  12. Khakbazan, M., Larney, F.J., Huang, J., Dilay, D., Mohr, R., Pearson, D.C., Blackshaw, R.E. (2016). Economic Comparison of Conventional and Conservation Management Practices for Irrigated Potato Production in Southern Alberta. American Journal of Potato Research, [online] 93(5), 448-462. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-016-9522-8

    2016 - View publication details

  13. Larney, F.J., Li, L., Janzen, H.H., Angers, D.A. and Olson, B.M. 2016. Soil quality attributes, soil resilience and legacy effects following topsoil removal and one-time amendments. Can. J. Soil Sci. 96: 177–190.

    2016 - View publication details

  14. Smith, E.G., Janzen, H.H., Scherloski, L., Larney, F.J., Ellert, B.H. (2016). Long-term (47 yr) effects of tillage and frequency of summerfallow on soil organic carbon in a Dark Brown Chernozem soil in western Canada. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, [online] 96(4), 347-350. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjss-2015-0120

    2016 - View publication details

  15. Sura, S., Degenhardt, D., Cessna, A.J., Larney, F.J., Olson, A.F. and McAllister, T.A. 2016. Transport of three antimicrobials in runoff from windrows of composting beef cattle manure. J. Environ. Qual. 45: 494–502.

    2016 - View publication details

  16. Amarakoon, I.D., Sura, S., Zvomuya, F., Cessna, A.J., Larney, F.J., and McAllister, T.A. 2016. Dissipation of antimicrobials in a seasonally-frozen soil following beef cattle manure application. J. Environ. Qual. 45: 1644–1651.

    2016 - View publication details

  17. Amarakoon, I.D., Zvomuya, F., Sura, S., Larney, F.J., Cessna. A.J., Xu, S. and McAllister, T.A. 2016. Dissipation of antimicrobials in feedlot manure compost after oral administration versus fortification after excretion. J. Environ. Qual. 45: 503–510.

    2016 - View publication details

  18. Larney, F.J., Pearson, D.C., Blackshaw, R.E., Lupwayi, N.Z., Lynch, D.R. (2016). Conservation Management Practices and Rotations for Irrigated Processing Potato in Southern Alberta. American Journal of Potato Research, [online] 93(1), 50-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-015-9487-z

    2016 - View publication details

  19. Miller, J., Beasley, B., Drury, C., Larney, F., Hao, X. (2016). Influence of long-term application of composted or stockpiled feedlot manure with straw or wood chips on soil cation exchange capacity. Compost Science & Utilization, [online] 24(1), 54-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2015.1055009

    2016 - View publication details

  20. Xu, S., Sura, S., Zaheer, R., Wang, G., Smith, A., Cook, S., Olson, A.F., Cessna, A.J., Larney, F.J., McAllister, T.A. (2016). Dissipation of antimicrobial resistance determinants in composted and stockpiled beef cattle manure. Journal of Environmental Quality, [online] 45(2), 528-536. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jeq2015.03.0146

    2016 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Lethbridge Research and Development Centre
5403 1st Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Agriculture-environment interactions
Agriculture›Agro-Ecosystem productivity and health
Agriculture›Crops›Alternative crops and diversification
Agriculture›Environmental science›Soil and environmental science
Agriculture›Land management›Land use
Agriculture›Soil science›Manure and slurry management
Agriculture›Soil science›Nutrient cycling
Agriculture›Soil science›Soil conservation
Agriculture›Soil science›Soil fertility
Agriculture›Soil science›Soil management
Agriculture›Soil science›Soil physical quality
Agriculture›Sustainable systems agronomy

Affiliations

Canadian Society of Soil Science

Soil Science Society of America

Language

English