Jacynthe Masse

The overarching theme of my research is to identify different ways of helping soil microorganisms to help us. These microorganisms perform a myriad of processes essential to the sustainable functioning of agroecosystems. A detailed understanding of these processes and of the interactions between plants, physical & chemical properties of soils, their microbiomes and of the agricultural landscape can allow us to identify practices that support soil and plant health as well as productivity while preserving or even improving the quality of agroecosystems.
Current research and/or projects
- Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal interactions with horticultural Brassicaceae crops
- Biodiversity and multifunctionnality of soil microorganisms inhabiting riparian buffers. Project as part of the Québec living laboratory initiative in the Lac St-Pierre Region
- Impacts of different cover crop strategies on the soil microbiome and GHG emissions within a biovigilance project on organic soils
- Science, adoption and adaptation of pesticide rinsate biobeds to support Canadian agro-ecosystems resilience and protect water resources
- Comparative current-use pesticides dynamics in three priority basins of Canada
- Linking nutrient cycling and soil health in Canadian agroecosystems
- Ensuring ecosystem productivity and resiliency by assessing the impact of trace metal contamination from manure on the potential for cyanobacterial and harmful algal blooms in fresh water bodies
Research and/or project statements
Understanding how agricultural-management practices, landscape architecture and soil properties shape soil microbiome in order to better understand agroecosystems functions and what influences them.
Identifying practices promoting soil microbiome which could be linked to climate change adaptation
Exploring links between soil microorganisms and nitrogen & carbon cycles to identify agricultural-management practices that could enhance carbon sequestration.
Studying biobeds as a tool for sustainable management of rinsate water
Professional activities / interests
- Member of the Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS)
- Co-chair of the CSSS’s Bid Committee for the 24th World Congress of Soil Science
- Member of the CSSS’s pedology committee
- Member of la société québécoise de la science du so
Education and awards
Education:
Ph.D. Foresterie, University of British Columbia | Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, 2016
M. Sc., Géographie, Université de Montréal | Département de géographie, 2011
B. Sc. Honor, Géographie environnementale, Université de Montréal | Département de géographie, 2009
Additional links
Key publications
Li Y., Laterrière M., Lay C.-Y., Klabi R., Masse J., St-Arnaud M., Yergeau É., Lupwayi N.Z., Gan Y., Hamel C. (2021) Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and crop sequence on root-associated microbiome, crop productivity and nutrient uptake in wheat-based and flax-based cropping systems. Applied Soil Ecology. 168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104136
Renaut S., Daoud R., Masse J., Lachance G., Vialle A. and Hijri M (2020) “Inoculation with Rhizoglomus irregularis does not alter arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community structure within the roots of corn, wheat and soybean crops” Microorganims. 8 (83) doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8010083.
Kattge J., Bönisch G., Díaz S., et al. (2020) TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access. Global Change Biology. 26 (1): 119– 188. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14904
Masse J., Yates T. T., Krzic M., Unc A., Chi Chen Z., Quideau S., Hodgson K. and Warren J. (2019) “Identifying learning outcomes for a Canadian pedology field school : addressing the gap between new graduates’ skills and the needs of the current job market” Canadian Journal of Soil Science. 99(4) : 458-471. DOI: 10.1139/CJSS-2019-0040
Renaut S., Masse J., Norrie J.P. Blal B., Hijri M. (2019) “A commercial seaweed extract structured microbial communities associated with tomato and pepper roots and significantly increased crop yield”. Microbial Biotechnology. 1-13. DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13473
Corti G., Agnelli A., Cocco S., Cardelli V., Masse J., Courchesne F. (2019) “Soil affects throughfall and stemflow under Turkey oak trees (Quercus Cerris L.)”. Geoderma. 333. p.43-56 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.07.010
Corti G., Agnelli A., Cocco S., Cardelli V., Masse J., Courchesne F. (2019) “Data on soil physicochemical properties and chemical composition of rainfall and of throughfall and stemflow generated by Turkey oak trees (Quercus cerris L.) in acid and sub-alkaline soils” Data in Brief. 20. p.954-956.
Masse J., Prescott C.E., Renaut S., Terrat Y. and Grayston S.J. (2017) Plant community and nitrogen deposition as drivers of alpha and beta diversities of prokaryotes in reconstructed oil sands soils and natural boreal forest soils. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 83(9) DOI: 10.1128/AEM.03319-16
Diochon A., Basiliko N., Krzic M., Yates T. T., Olson E., Masse J., Amiro B., Kumaragamage D. (2017) "Profiling undergraduate soil science education in Canada: Status and projected trends”. Canadian Journal of Soil Science.97: 122-132. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjss-2016-0058
Courchesne F., Turmel M-C, Cloutier-Hurteau B., Tremblay G., Munro L., Masse J., Labrecque M. (2017) Soil trace element changes during a phytoremediation trial with willows in southern Québec, Canada. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 19 (7). p.632-642. DOI dx.doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2016.1278422
Masse J., Prescott C.E., Müller C. and Grayston S.J. (2016) “Gross nitrogen transformation rates differ in reconstructed oil-sands soils from naturally disturbed boreal forest soils as revealed using a 15N tracing method”. Geoderma. 282. p.37-48. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.07.007
Ribbons R.R., Levy-Booth D.J., Masse J., Grayston S.J., McDonald M.A., Vesterdal L. and Prescott C.E. (2016) “Linking microbial communities, functional genes and nitrogen-cycling processes in forest floors under four tree species”. Soil biology & biochemistry. 103. p.181-191. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.024
Courchesne F., Masse J. and Girard M. (2012) “The deep burial of Early Paleoindian artifacts in the Podzols of the Cliche-Rancourt site, Québec”. In Chapdelaine C. (ed) «Late Pleistocene Archaeology and Ecology in the Far Northeast » Texas A&M University Press. p. 164-181.
Masse J., Girard M. et Courchesne F. (2010) “L’enfouissement en profondeur des témoins culturels dans les sols du site Paléoindien ancien de Cliche-Rancourt, Québec” in Loewen B., Chapdelaine, C and Burke A. (ed) «De l’archéologie analytique à l’archéologie sociale» Recherches amérindiennes du Québec, Montréal, p. 129-153.