Sukkasini Thissaverasingan's Research Interests

My research focuses on the Production of Novel High Quality Horticultural Growing Media.

The horticultural sector in both the domestic and export markets are generating demands for new products to substitute for the limited supplies of traditional amendments such as manures, bark and peat moss. A barrier to the extensive use of compost in horticultural markets, however, is the need for a product that is consistent, stable and of predictable quality.

A significant source of organic material available for composting in Atlantic Canada, but not yet widely used in agriculture, is the solid waste (pulp mill biosolid (PMB)) from the paper and pulp industry. Due to its high water content, PMB obstructs efficient combustion, while the more common method of landfill disposal is expensive and poses environmental problems.

A new resource development policy for the peat sector requires all new peat extraction must be directed at planned production, in providence of value added peat products only.

Novel Technology (dehydration) is available to process the large volumes of PMB compost currently being produced in Atlantic Canada and may provide an ideal substitute for peat and pine bark in the development of growing media.

Proposed objectives of the research

To determine the suitability of composted pulp mill biosolid (PMB) and dehydrated PMB compost as peat and/or pine bark replacement in the development of novel growing media.

Proposed Methodology
A series of greenhouse pot studies at NSAC (each a RCBD with 4 replicates) will be conducted to assess vegetable transplant (broccoli, tomato) growth response (nutrient uptake, shoot and root growth)

Growing media blends of peat and/or pine bark combined with three local PMB composts (from Bowater-Mersey Inc., Louisiana Pacific and Envirem Technologies Inc.) will be produced.

The physio-chemical properties (stability, pH, water holding capacity, EC, nutrient content) of each blend will be tested. The effect of media PMB compost content, and PMB compost pre-treatment (screening, dehydration) will be assessed.

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." Aristotle

"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying." Woody Allen