Bobbi Helgason

Soil Science

Associate Member, 2023- present, Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan

Bobbi Helgason is a soil microbial ecologist whose research program focusses on how microorganisms affect soil functions and plant growth, particularly in agroecosystems. She received her PhD in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan in 2010 and was a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and an Adjunct Professor in Soil Science from 2010 until 2018. Bobbi grew up on a grain farm near St. Gregor, Saskatchewan. She teaches soil microbiology at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

My research program focusses on how soil microorganisms interact with climate and agricultural management practices to affect soil functioning and crop productivity. In my program, I combine field and laboratory investigations using leading edge methodologies in microbial ecology, stable isotope probing, and soil energetics to understand links between microbial communities (structure, activity) and soil biogeochemical processes and plant-microbe interactions.

Ph.D. (Soil Science) University of Saskatchewan, 2010
M.Sc. (Soil Science) University of Saskatchewan, 2001
B.Sc. (Applied Microbiology) University of Saskatchewan, 1999

Please refer to Google Scholar profile for full publication list.

Mitchell, A.D. and B.L. Helgason. 2024. Functional Carbon Pools and Microbial Communities in Persistent Carbon Rich Erosion Buried Topsoils. Geoderma. 459:117353. doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117353.

Liu, M., S.P. Mooleki, Y. Li, D. Schneider, L.V. Kochian and B.L. Helgason. 2024. Root microbiome in canola (Brassica napus L.) responded to soil phosphorus fertilization and correlated with plant field performance. Plant Soil. doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07286-w.

Mitchell, A.D. and B.L. Helgason. 2024. Thermodynamics of Microbial Decomposition of Persistent Carbon in Erosion-Buried Topsoils. Soil Biol. Biochem. doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109710.

Shorunke, A., B.L. Helgason and R.E. Farrell. 2025. Evidence of the need for residue-specific N₂O emission factors. Soil Biol. Biochem. 202:109694. doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109694.

Reimer, J.C., M.M. Arcand and B.L. Helgason. 2023. Soil denitrification response to increased urea concentration constrains nitrous oxide emissions in a simulated cattle urine patch. Plant Soil. doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06048-w.

Town, J.R., T. Dumonceaux, B. Tidemann and B.L. Helgason. Crop rotation significantly influences the composition of soil, rhizosphere and root microbiota in canola (Brassica napus L.). Environ. Microbiom. 18:1-14. doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00495-9.

Town, J. R., R.L. Lemke, M. Yu and B.L. Helgason. 2023. Land use in the Prairie Pothole Region influences the soil bacterial community composition and relative abundance of nitrogen cycling genes. Can. J. Soil Sci. doi.org/10.1139/CJSS-2022-0121.

Town, J.R., E.G. Gregorich, C.F. Drury, R. Lemke, L.A. Phillips and B.L. Helgason. 2022. Diverse crop rotations influence the bacterial and fungal communities in root, rhizosphere and soil and impact soil microbial processes. Appl. Soil Ecol. 169:104241. doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104241.

Habtewold, J., B.L. Helgason, S.F. Yanni, H.H. Janzen, B.H. Ellert and E.G. Gregorich. 2021. Warming Effects on the Structure of Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Diverse Soils. Appl. Soil Ecol. 163: 103973. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.103973.

Morales Moreira, Z., B.L. Helgason and J.J. Germida. 2021. Environment has a stronger effect than host plant genotype in shaping spring Brassica napus seed microbiome. Phytobiomes Journal 5:220-230. doi:10.1094/PBIOMES-08-20-0059-R.

SLSC 342.3 Agronomic Soil Microbiology
SLSC 842.3 Soil Microbiology
SLSC 826.3 Physical, Chemical, and Biological Characterization of Soils