Loveleen Dhillon

• PhD Plant Science, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
• MSc Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, India
• BSc Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, India

Research 

Dr. Loveleen Dhillon leads an applied agronomy research program focused on improving the productivity, profitability and resilience of corn, sunflower and flax production in Manitoba and Western Canada. As the Agronomist-in-Residence for Special Crops, a position supported by Manitoba Crop Alliance, she works closely with growers, research and industry partners to identify production challenges and develop locally relevant, research-based management strategies.

Her research focuses on crop establishment, nutrient management, weed management and overall production efficiency in corn, flax and sunflower. The program examines how agronomic practices, crop genetics and growing environments influence crop performance, yield and profitability, using field-based and data-driven approaches to better understand crop responses under Prairie growing conditions.

A key goal of the program is to strengthen the agronomic knowledge base for corn, flax and sunflower and accelerate the transfer of research findings into practical recommendations for growers and agronomists.

Current Research Projects

Corn

• Effect of planting date on the agronomic performance and yield of selected corn hybrids
• Comparative efficacy of Group 27 herbicides for the control of key weed species in corn
• Data-driven modelling of nitrogen fertilization effects on corn productivity

Sunflower

• Response of sunflower hybrids to nitrogen fertilization: Assessing current fertilizer recommendations for modern hybrids in Manitoba

Flax

• Optimizing flax production in Manitoba: Effects of seeding date, plant density and fertilizer placement
• Evaluating the effects of plant growth regulators on flax agronomic performance, yield and profitability

Corn, Flax and Sunflower

• Optimizing weed management timing: Determining the critical period of weed control for special crops in Manitoba

Extension and Knowledge Transfer

A key part of Dr. Dhillon’s program is connecting research with on-farm decision-making. She shares research findings with growers, agronomists and industry through field days, producer meetings, conferences, workshops and other extension activities. The goal is to make research results accessible, relevant and useful for improving crop management and supporting informed production decisions in Manitoba and Western Canada.

Research Partnerships and Collaborations

• Program and industry partner: Manitoba Crop Alliance
• Research collaborators: University of Manitoba researchers, Manitoba crop diversification centres, and applied research institutions in Saskatchewan.
• Project funders and commodity partners: Manitoba Crop Alliance, Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) and SaskOilseeds.

Professional Qualifications

• Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.)

Publications

• ORCID-ID

Industry Partner

• Manitoba Crop Alliance