Sandra Yanni, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Developing a research program in energy and irrigation system science to decrease the energy intensity/footprint of Canadian farming systems in irrigated agriculture. Exploring alternative energy and water sources while sustaining agricultural production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1

Current research and/or projects

Research focused on energy and water efficiencies in agriculture and investigating water-energy-food nexus interlinkages.

Research and/or project statements

Publications:

Habtewold, J. B.L. Helgason, S.F. Yanni, H.H. Janzen, B.H. Ellert, and E.G. Gregorich. 2021. Warming effects on the structure of bacterial and fungal communities in diverse soils. Applied Soil Ecology, Vol 163, 103973 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.103973
Yanni, S.F., A. De Laporte, P. Rajsic, C. Wagner-Riddle, A. Weersink. 2020. The environmental and economic efficacy of on-farm beneficial management practices for mitigating soil-related greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario, Canada. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, Online First Nov 26, 2020. doi:10.1017/S1742170520000320.
Habtewold, J. B.L. Helgason, S.F. Yanni, H.H. Janzen, B.H. Ellert, and E.G. Gregorich. 2020. Litter composition has stronger influence on the structure of soil fungal than bacterial communities. European Journal of Soil Biology, 98: 103190.
Yanni, S.F., B.L. Helgason, H.H. Janzen, B.H. Ellert, and E.G. Gregorich. 2020. Warming effects on carbon dynamics and microbial communities in soils of diverse texture. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 140: 107631.
Yanni, S.F., A. Diochon, B.L. Helgason, B.H. Ellert, and E.G. Gregorich. 2018. Temperature response of plant residue and soil organic matter decomposition in soil from different depths. European Journal of Soil Science, 69: 325-335.
Yanni, S.F., H.H. Janzen, E.G. Gregorich, B.H. Ellert, F.J. Larney, B.M. Olson, F. Zvomuya. 2016. Convergence of Organic Carbon in Diverse Soils after a 21-Year Field Bioassay. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 80: 1653 – 1662.
Gregorich, E.G., A.W. Gillespie, M.H. Beare, D. Curtin, H. Sanei, and S.F. Yanni. 2015. Evaluating biodegradability of soil organic matter by its thermal stability and chemical composition. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 91: 182 – 191.
Yanni, S.F., E. Suddick, and J. Six. 2015. Photodegradation effects on CO2 emissions from litter and SOM and photo-facilitation of microbial decomposition in a California grassland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 91: 40 – 49.
Whalen, J.K., S. Gul, V. Poirier, S.F. Yanni, M.J. Simpson, J.S. Clemente, X. Feng, S.J. Grayston, J. Barker, K. Ishimaru, E.G. Gregorich, D.A. Angers, P. Rochette, and H.H. Janzen. 2014. Transforming plant carbon into soil carbon: process-level controls on carbon sequestration. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 94:1065 – 1073.
Sheibani, S., S.F. Yanni, R. Wilhelm, J.K. Whalen, L. Whyte, C. Greer, and C. Madramootoo. 2013. Soil bacteria and archaea found in long-term corn (Zea mays L.) agroecosystems in Quebec, Canada. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 93:45 – 57.
Clemente, J.S., M.J. Simpson, A.J. Simpson, S.F. Yanni, and J.K. Whalen. 2013. Comparison of soil organic matter composition after incubation with maize leaves, roots, and stems. Geoderma, 192:86 – 96.
Whitman, T., S.F. Yanni, and J.K. Whalen. 2011. Life cycle assessment of corn stover production for cellulosic ethanol in Quebec. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 91:997 – 1012.
Yanni, S.F., J.K. Whalen, and B.L. Ma. 2011. Field-grown Bt and non-Bt corn: yield, chemical composition, and decomposition. Agronomy Journal, 103:486 – 493.
Yanni, S.F., J.K. Whalen, B.L. Ma, and Y. Gelinas. 2011. European corn borer injury effects on lignin, carbon, and nitrogen in corn tissues. Plant and Soil, 341:165 – 177.
Yanni, S.F., J.K. Whalen, M.J. Simpson, and H.H. Janzen. 2011. Plant lignin and nitrogen contents control carbon dioxide production and nitrogen mineralization in soils incubated with Bt and non-Bt corn residues. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 43:63 – 69.
Yanni, S.F., J.K. Whalen, and B.L. Ma. 2009. Crop residue chemistry, decomposition rates, and CO2 evolution in Bt and non-Bt corn agroecosystems in North America. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 87(2): 277 – 293.

Book Chapters:

Gul, S., S.F.Yanni, J.K. Whalen. 2014. Lignin Controls on Soil Ecosystem Services: Implications for Biotechnological Advances in Biofuel Crops. In: Lignin: Structural Analysis, Applications in Biomaterials and Ecological Significance, Nova Science Publishers Inc., New York. pp. 375 – 416.

Selected Presentations:

Yanni, S.F., Bachour, R., Daher, B., Koo-Oshima, S., and Mohtar, R. 2021. A Nexus trade-offs analysis of water, energy, food, nutrition and feedback to the environment in Lebanon. IWRA 2021 Online Conference, June 7-9.
Yanni, S.F., Bachour, R., Daher, B., Koo-Oshima, S., and Mohtar, R. 2021. A Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach for evaluating the sustainability of the plant-based Mediterranean-inspired diet: The Case of Lebanon. International Symposium for Farming Systems Design Webinar, March 22, 2021.
Koo-Oshima, S., Yanni, S.F., Bachour, R., Daher, B., and Mohtar, R. 2021. A Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach for evaluating the sustainability of the plant-based Mediterranean-inspired diet: The Case of Lebanon. FAO Water-Energy-Food Nexus webinar series, Series 3, March 2, 2021.
Yanni, S.F., P. Rajsic, C. Wagner-Riddle, and A. Weersink. Best management practices for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Ontario Cropland – Synthesis of Knowledge. Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science. June 10 – 14, 2018, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Yanni S.F., H.H. Janzen, E.G. Gregorich, B.H. Ellert, F.J. Larney, B.M. Olson, F. Zvomuya. Convergence of organic carbon in diverse soils after a 21-year field bioassay. Annual Meeting of the ASA, CSSA, SSSA. Nov. 15 – 18, 2015, Minneapolis, MN.
Gillabel, J., S.F. Yanni, A.A. Berhe, R. Merckx, J. Six. 2011. Controlling factors on temperature sensitivity of soil respiration at the soil profile scale. Annual Meeting of the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Oct. 16 – 19, 2011, San Antonio, Texas.
Yanni, S.F., J.K. Whalen, M.J. Simpson, H.H. Janzen. 2010. Plant lignin and nitrogen contents control carbon dioxide production and nitrogen mineralization from soils incubated with Bt and non-Bt corn residues. International Annual Meeting of the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, 2010, Long Beach, California.

Education and awards

Ph.D. in Renewable Resources (Soil Science), McGill University, Quebec, Canada
M.Sc. in Irrigation Science, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
B.Sc. in Agriculture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

International experience and/or work

Assistant Professor of Agroecology/Soil/Water at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon (2019-2021)

Teaching land and water resources courses and research on conservation agricultural practices in semi-arid conditions.

Post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, California, USA (2011-2012)

Research on photodegradation and CO2 emissions from soils in a dry grassland ecosystem.

Additional links

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sandra-Yanni

Key publications

Yanni, S.F., Whalen, J.K., and Ma, B.-L. (2009). "Crop residue chemistry, decomposition rates, and CO₂ evolution in Bt and non-Bt corn agroecosystems in North America: a review.", Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 87(2), pp. 277-293. doi : 10.1007/s10705-009-9338-8
2010 - View publication details
Yanni, S.F., Six, J., Whalen, J.K., Ma, B.-L. (2008). "Soil carbon sequestration potential of Bt corn agroecosystems in North America.", Plants and Soils: Montreal '08: Joint meeting of the CSHS, CSA and Northeastern Branch ASA-CSSA-SSSA, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, July 13-16, 2008. (Poster)
2008 - View publication details