Madramootoo, Chandra
Ph.D., P.Eng. | Distinguished James McGill Professor
Irrigation and Drainage Lab
BSc, MSc and PhD in agricultural engineering at McGill University. Joined the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 1984, and was named to a James McGill Professorship in 2000. Created the Brace Centre for Water Resources Management in 1999, and was its Founding Director. In this role, he garnered funding for large scale, multidisciplinary, national and international water, environmental, and climate change projects. Areas of expertise include water management, irrigation, drainage, agricultural research, international agriculture development, hydrology and water quality of surface and subsurface drained fields, development of innovative technologies to predict crop water requirements, and impacts of water management practices on greenhouse gas emissions. Has supervised over 80 graduate students, authored or co-authored over 200 refereed journal papers, and invited to deliver some 100 presentations at national and international conferences.
Appointed Dean of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 2005, and over a 10 year period, led a major transformation of the Faculty’s teaching and research programs. Introduced programs in global food security, food safety, integrated water resources management, entrepreneurship and innovation. Led the academic renewal of the faculty, and over 50% growth in the undergraduate and graduate student population. Teaching and research infrastructure were also upgraded.
Currently accepting graduate students
B.Sc.(AgrEng)
M.Sc.
Ph.D. (McGill)
- Morty Yalovsky Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Academic Leadership, 2024
- Kishida International Award from ASABE, 2024
- Distinguished James McGill Professor (2022-)
- Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada
- Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering
- World Irrigation and Drainage Prize
- Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Associate Vice-Principal (Macdonald) (2005-2015)
- James McGill Professor (2015-2022)
- Inducted in the Overholt International Drainage Hall of Fame
- DSc (honoris causa) University of Guelph
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Fellow, ASABE
- Fellow, CSBE
- Membre, OIQ
With growing water scarcity and concerns about climate change, new technologies are being developed to conserve limited freshwater supplies and increase crop water productivity. Irrigation systems and techniques are being developed, which can apply precise amounts of water, taking spatial field properties, and crop type and growth stage into account. Innovative technologies to predict crop water requirements, and the impacts of various water management practices on greenhouse gas emissions are being investigated. Water table management systems are being designed and field tested to reduce non-point source pollution, and algal blooms and cyanobacterial contamination of rivers and lakes.
- Agricultural Water Quality
- Effects of agricultural water management systems on greenhouse gas emissions in Eastern Canada
- A water quality assessment framework for a safe food system
- Managing agricultural systems to protect Canada's freshwater
- Application of variable rate irrigation technology for water efficiency and conservation
- Soil-plant-water dynamics and water productivity benefits of subsurface drip irrigation