Carbon storage was compared between two perennial biomass energy systems, namely switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and short-rotation willow Salix alba x glaffelteri L.) at 2 adjacent sites, and further compared with a corn cultivation, a 20-year-old abandoned field, and a mature hardwood forest, in southwestern Quebec. Aboveground carbon results indicated that switchgrass and corn had significantly greater carbon levels than willow at the less fertile site, but no significant differences were detected at the more fertile site. Root carbon results indicated that corn had significantly lower carbon levels than both perennial systems to a depth of 30 cm at both sites. However, switchgrass had significantly greater root carbon levels beyond 30 cm compared with willow and corn, and beyond 45 cm compared with the forest and abandoned field. These findings indicate that deep-rooted perennial grasses such as switchgrass have the potential to sequester carbon at deeper soil layers. Soil carbon results showed that at the more fertile site, willow was associated with significantly greater soil carbon levels than switchgrass. Moreover, both perennial crops had soil carbon levels that were greater than for corn, the abandoned field, and the forest. In contrast, at the less fertile site, no significant differences in soil carbon were detected between the various plant systems examined. The results of this study suggest that the perennial energy crops used, when grown on relatively fertile soils, have the potential to substantially increase soil carbon levels compared with conventional agricultural and/or forest systems. Consequently, when these crops are grown on less fertile soils, their added advantage of increasing carbon storage is lost.

The purpose of this descriptive study is to examine how some large organizations selected for the quality of their human resource management (HRM) practices evaluate their human resource (HR) function, and to investigate the purpose and usefulness of HRM evaluation within these organizations. Five questions are investigated: (1) Who decides whether or not to evaluate the HR function? (2) What are the objectives of HRM evaluation? (3) What is the focus of HRM evaluation? (4) What are the means used to evaluate HRM? (5) What is the impact of HRM evaluation on the direction of human resource management within the organization? / Despite the growing strategic importance of human resource management, there is still little research evaluating its effectiveness. Most participants consider that their organization does not systematically evaluate HRM. Most use indirect or informal methods. This confirms that systematic HRM evaluation is not a priority for most organizations. Some Vice-Presidents, Human Resources (VPHR) expressed disappointment with this situation and indicated that the necessary resources were not available. / Within the limited sample of 10 organizations, the HRM evaluation practices are diversified. The extent of HRM evaluation is surprising given the reservations and modesty expressed by the participants. Most organizations have evaluated multiple HRM policies, programs or services representative of multiple sub-systems within the HRM system. / The high-impact HR function uses performance measures to support its business plans and to convincingly communicate the benefits of its contribution to the stakeholders, especially senior management. Despite a strong continuous improvement culture and the participation of the VPHR in strategic decision making, measuring HRM effectiveness and benchmarking against the best HRM practices is not a systematic process in most organizations.

Warm season grasses are increasingly being cultivated in North America for summer forage, soil conservation, and biomass production. In more northern environments, temperature and length of growing season have an overriding effect on the productivity of warm season grasses. There is limited information on the adaptability and production potential of warm season grasses in these short season areas. A study was conducted in south-western Quebec from 1993 to 1996 to evaluate the productivity of five species of warm season grasses. Phenological development, canopy leaf area development and architecture, radiation-use efficiency (RUE), yield and chemical composition were determined. In terms of phenology, there was a diversity of developmental patterns and the genotypes of greatest potential were characterised by early spring growth and late onset of dormancy in fall. Most of the genotypes that were early in spring growth were also early maturing and low yielding. Late maturing genotypes were generally late in spring growth, high yielding and generally of southern origin. Differences in developmental patterns were partly explained by differences in base temperatures for germination and growth, and growth rates. Seed osmoconditioning and/or matriconditioning alleviated effects of low temperatures on switchgrass seed germination and potential establishment. Maximum leaf area index ranged from 6.1 to 8 and the vertical leaf area distributions and light interception levels varied among genotypes. Average end of season biomass yields ranged from 8.5 to 14.4 Mg ha-1. Switchgrass rates of DM accumulation ranged from 175 to 191 kg ha-1 day-1 and RUE 0.89 to 1.1 g MJ-1 of incoming solar radiation. Moderate amounts of N fertilisation increased yield and quality of switchgrass, which could be harvested in a 2-cut system. NDF and ADF ranged from 77--88 and 46--57% respectively, and showed a rapid increase to a mid season plateau. Nitrogen concentrations declined curvilinearly wit

Soil structure and crop response under annual compactive loads of 10 and 18 t/axle and compaction alleviation treatments were assessed in a continuous corn production system. The alleviation treatments consisted of chemical conditioning with a non-ionic surfactant, and subsoiling with narrow-tined and winged implements. Parameters utilized for determining effects on soil structure were bulk density, water retention characteristics and soil profile characteristics. Significant topsoil and subsoil compaction resulted from both loading levels. Crop yield reductions due to compactive loading ranged from 18 to 27% under optimal weather conditions and were as high as 55 to 86% under adverse weather conditions. Soil amendments by chemical conditioning had no beneficial effect on soil structure or crop yields. Inter-row subsoiling with narrow-tined and winged subsoilers was effective in reducing soil compaction and increasing crop yields. / Soil bulk density measurements gave good indication of overall compaction to a depth of 0.4 m and correlated well with crop yields, but were unable to locate differences between compactive treatments. Water retention characteristics indicated significant differences between compactive treatments to a depth of 0.6 m. Soil profile characteristics were useful for determining ped type and size as well as rooting depth and gave the best overall assessment of compaction alleviation effects. / Studies were also conducted to develop a method for predicting soil compactibility that would serve to manage soil compaction at the farm level. Preliminary studies focused on the determination of soil material properties for predicting bulk density changes under applied loads. Further investigations were conducted on the variations in constrained modulus, cone index and soil bulk density values under uniaxial loading. A model relating constrained modulus as a function of cone index, bulk density and soil moisture content was developed. Subsequent studies conducted yielded significant relationships between penetration resistance and soil compactibility as indicated by constrained modulus and coefficient of compressibility. Relationships obtained between penetration resistance and parameters of compactive work and bulk density change indicated the feasibility of assessing soil compactibility at the farm level.

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This is a study about bankruptcy, a procedure incorporated into Lower Canada's legal institutions in 1839. The object is to analyze from both a social and a legal perspectives the relations between insolvent traders and their creditors during the first half of the nineteenth century. This research is based on a source almost unexploited by historians up to now, the bankruptcy records located in the judicial archives in the district of Montreal. / The economic difficulties of the 1820's and the inefficiency of the existing legal means for debt recovery were among the main arguments invoqued by the traders of Montreal in their demands for the implementation of a bankruptcy procedure. / The result of our research indicate that these demands were not mainly expressed by the wealthiest creditors. The bankruptcy procedure responded more to the needs of ordinary creditors such as artisans, tavernkeepers and bakers whose credit was central to the production and trade of goods. The bankruptcy procedure allowed ordinary creditors to audit and control debtor's transactions, and to constrain other creditors to accept re-payment compromise.

A study of muskrat population variables in southern Quebec did not allow differentiation between the quality of ditches bordered by corn fields and those bordered by hay fields. Annual turnover of adults and juveniles was very high in both ditch types. The average maximum density of muskrats was the second highest recorded in the literature. Muskrat activity was not predictive of activity of other co-occurring vertebrates. The direct relationship between the logarithm of the number of burrows and the number of muskrats showed the usefulness of this sign of presence as an indicator of population size. Within given ditches, we failed to detect different genetic proximity between adults from successive years between corn and hay ditches. We failed to show that adult genetic proximity within ditches and within years difference between hay and corn ditches. Analyses of adult genetic proximity within and among ditches within a year confirmed the limited dispersal of female muskrat. Muskrat DNA fingerprinting analyses supported the general usefulness of spatiotemporal associations to determine kinship. Habitat use models based on muskrat signs of presence in southern Quebec high clay bank farm ditches showed that muskrat presence was positively associated with water depth, water velocity, and pulpy plant cover (excluding cattail), but was negatively associated with dredging. The type of crop was not important in explaining muskrat presence. In various habitats of the James Bay area, the habitat use models identified a positive relationship with percentages of submerged and floating plant cover, width of the shore herbaceous belt, bank slope and dominance of clay-loam soil on banks. Such models could be used to assess the potential of boreal wetlands to harbour burrow-dwelling muskrats.