Forge, Thomas, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Contact Information:

4200 Highway 97
PO Box 5000
Summerland, British Columbia V0H 1Z0
Telephone: 250-494-2119
Fax: 250-494-7711
Email: tom.forge@agr.gc.ca

Areas of Expertise:

  • Soil ecology and nematology
  • Cultural management of plant-parasitic nematodes
  • Influences of organic amendments on root diseases and soil health indicators
  • Sustainable soil, nutrient and water management for high-value horticultural crops

Current Projects:

  • Root diseases of perennial fruit crops: Impacts of climate change and sustainable water management strategies
  • Role of plant-parasitic nematodes in root decline of blueberry
  • Biological interactions fundamental to the environmentally sustainable production of high-quality blueberries
  • Effects of alternative mulches on blueberry root health, productivity and nutrient management
  • Impacts of plant-parasitic nematodes on root dynamics and productivity of wine grapes in the Okanagan Valley
  • Influences of nitrogen sources and cover crops on soil health indicators and root diseases of red raspberry

Affiliations:

  • Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia
  • Canadian Phytopathological Society
  • Canadian Society for Soil Science
  • Society of Nematologists

Research Publications:

The links below lead to abstracts with access to full text.

2013:

2012:

2011:

2010:

2009:

Other Science Related Publications:

2012:

  • Forge, T.A. (2012). "Alternative raspberry field renovation practices and the use of organic amendments: Implications for root diseases and nitrate leaching.", 57th Annual North Willamette Horticulture Society Meeting, Canby, OR, USA, January 10-12, 2012, Berry Section.
  • Forge, T.A. (2012). "Comparing Poultry Manure and Compost as Preplant Soil Amendments for Enhanced Root Health.", Compost Matters 2012 Workshop, Composting Council of Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada, February 15-16, 2012.
  • Forge, T.A. (2012). "Evaluation of alternatives to fumigation.", 54th Annual Horticulture Growers’ Short Course, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, January 26-28, 2012.
  • Forge, T.A. (2012). "Using composts in berries: influences on soil health.", 57th Annual North Willamette Horticulture Society Meeting, Canby, OR, USA, January 10-12, 2012, Organic Section.
  • Forge, T.A., Kenney, E., Neilsen, D., and Zebarth, B.J. (2012). "Alternatives to fumigation.", 54th Annual Horticulture Growers’ Short Course, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, January 26-28, 2012, pp. 29-32.

2011:

  • Collins, D.P., Cogger, C.G., Kennedy, A., Forge, T.A., Collins, H.P., Bary, A.I., and Rossi, R. (2011). "Multi-scale variation of soil quality indices and association with edaphic properties.", 2011 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting: Fundamental for life: soil, crop and environmental sciences, San Antonio, TX, USA, October 16-19, 2011. (Abstract)
  • Forge, T.A. (2011). "A better understanding of the impact of fumigation and alternatives on soils, pests and crops.", 53st Annual Horticulture Growers' Short Course, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, January 27-29, 2011.
  • Forge, T.A. (2011). "Soil and water management for healthy blueberry root systems.", Scotia Horticultural Congress 2011, Wolfville, NS, Canada, January 24-25, 2011.
  • Forge, T.A. (2011). "Soil ecology and alternative mulches for blueberry.", COABC 2011 "The Next Generation" Conference, Sidney, BC, Canada, March 4-6, 2011.
  • Forge, T.A. (2011). "Sustainable soil and nutrient management for fruit crops: Implications for root health.", UBC-Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada, October 20, 2011.
  • Forge, T.A., Neilsen, D., Neilsen, G.H., and Hogue, E.J. (2011). "Influences of organic mulches on development of root-lesion nematode populations in relation to indicators of soil food web structure during apple orchard establishment.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology / Revue canadienne de phytopathologie, 33, pp. 276. (Abstract)
  • Forge, T.A., Neilsen, G.H., Neilsen, D., Walters, T.W., and Koch, C.A. (2011). "Using organic amendments and mulches to preferentially enhance biological activity and suppress plant pathogens in root zone soil under perennial fruit crops.", 2011 Soils Ecology Society Meeting, University of British Columbia - Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada, May 24-27, 2011.
  • Forge, T.A., Neilsen, G.H., Smit, R., Neilsen, D., Bowen, P.A., and Hannam, K. (2011). "Nematode parasites of grapevines in the Okanagan Valley: What are their potential impacts? What can we do about them?", 12th Annual Enology & Viticulture Conference and Trade Show, Penticton, BC, Canada, July 18-19, 2011.
  • Hannam, K., Neilsen, G.H., Neilsen, D., and Forge, T.A. (2011). "Improving the yeast assimiliable nitrogen status of wine grape juice.", 12th Annual Enology & Viticulture Conference and Trade Show, Penticton, BC, Canada, July 18-19, 2011.
  • Neilsen, D., Neilsen, G.H., Forge, T.A., Guak, S., and Herbert, L.C. (2011). "Effects of irrigation stress and crop load on yield and quality of Ambrosia/M.9 apple trees.", HortScience, 46(9), pp. S115. (Abstract)
  • Neilsen, G.H., Neilsen, D., Forge, T.A., Guak, S., and Herbert, L.C. (2011). "Irrigation strategy and crop load affect nutrition management of drip-fertigated Ambrosia/M.9 apple trees 359-2 S04 Soil fertility and plant nutrition.", 2011 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting: Fundamental for life: soil, crop and environmental sciences, San Antonio, TX, USA, October 16-19, 2011, Session: Management strategies to improve nutrient use efficiency I.
  • Neilsen, G.H., Neilsen, D., Forge, T.A., and Hannam, K. (2011). "Urea sprays to improve yeast assimiliable N concentration in grape at harvest.", 12th Annual Enology & Viticulture Conference and Trade Show, Penticton, BC, Canada, July 18-19, 2011.
  • Valenzuela-Estrada, L.R., Bryla, D.R., Hoashi-Erhardt, W.K., Moore, P.P., and Forge, T.A. (2011). "Root traits associated with Phytophthora root rot resistance in red raspberry.", International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) 10th Rubus & Ribes Symposium, Zlatibor, Serbia, June 22-26, 2011. (Abstract)

2009:

  • Bissonnette, N., Angers, D.A., Neilsen, G.H., Neilsen, D., Hogue, E.J., and Forge, T.A. (2009). "Utilisation de residus de paillis organiques en production biologique de pommiers: effect sur la matiere organique du soil.", 23e Congrès annuel de l’Association Québécoise des Spécialistes en Science du Sol (AQSSS): La rivière, reflet de la gestion des terres, l'auberge le Baluchon, St-Paulin, QC, Canada, May 19-22, 2009, pp. 72.
  • Herath, A., Zhang, T.Q., Hamel, C., Bittman, S., Forge, T.A., Tan, C.S., Goss, M.J., and Welacky, T.W. (2009). "Phosphorus fraction distributions in soils under various management practices in Canada.", Joint Annual Meeting of the CSA-CSSS-CSAFM: Sciences for Sustainability: Soils, Agronomy, and Atmosphere, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, August 5-7, 2009. (Abstract)
  • Herath, A., Zhang, T.Q., Hamel, C., Tan, C.S., Forge, T.A., Lafond, G.P., and Goss, M.J. (2009). "Development of a soil Phosphorus Test for Prediction of Long-term Soil Phosphorus Loss.", Great Lakes Phosphorus Forum with SERA-17 Annual Meeting, Hilton Hotel and St. Clair Centre, Windsor, ON, Canada, July 28-31, 2009. (Poster)
  • Neilsen, G.H., Neilsen, D., Hogue, E.J., Rabie, B., Herbert, L.C., Forge, T.A., Angers, D.A., and Bissonnette, N. (2009). "Use of composts in organic apple production.", 19th Annual National Compost Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada, September 30-October 2, 2009.