NCAAR laboratory renovations and construction complete

Investigators: Amanda Nelson and Andrea Simpson

Date: 2022

Project Summary

In 2022, the construction and renovations of the NCAAR laboratories were completed. Begun in 2020, the project saw delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, staff turnover, and severe weather. Renovations included the formation of four laboratories with built-in gas, pressurized air, and vacuum lines, gas tank storage, isolated exhaust systems, and safety facilities such as emergency showers and eyewash stations.

In Building A, two labs were established: Lab A contains many of our analytical instruments and will be used for biogeochemical analyses of water, soil, and plant samples. Lab B will be NCAAR's wet chemistry lab where analyte extractions and preparations will be performed (Figure 1).

In building D, two additional labs were renovated including Lab C which has general lab facilities, such as a fume hood, and will be equipped with a vacuum manifold, and Lab D which will be more of a "dirty" lab in which much of the sample processing and physical soil and plant analyses will take place (Figure 2). A partial list of expected capabilities is below.

Soil

pH
Electrical Conductivity
Total (Organic) Carbon and Nitrogen
Extractable Phosphorus and Ammonium
Particle Size Analysis
Bulk Density
Ion Concentrations (Al, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, and Zn)
Anion Concentrations (Fl-, Cl-, NO3-, Br-, NO2-, SO4-)
Aggregate Stability
Soil Organic Matter Fractionation

Water

pH
Electrical Conductivity
Dissolved Oxygen
Suspended and Dissolved Solids
Dissolved Ammonium
Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus
Ion Concentrations (Al, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, and Zn)
Anion Concentrations (Fl-, Cl-, NO3-, Br-, NO2-, SO4-)

Plant Material

Total Carbon and Nitrogen
Dry Matter
Seed Count
Protein Content
Ion Concentrations (Al, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, and Zn)
Leaf Morphology
Extractable Phosphorus and Ammonium
Anion Concentrations (Fl-, Cl-, NO3-, Br-, NO2-, SO4-)

Current Status

With the construction completed, we have undertaken the task of moving and unpacking our laboratory equipment and supplies. We are setting up the equipment and have started training for processing and analyzing samples. Our collection of analytical protocols keeps growing as we continue establishing procedures for various biochemical measurements. We are hoping to hire a lab manager and have fully operational laboratories in 2023.

Project Photos

• Topic:
• Cover Crops
• Tillage
• Soil