Non Technical Summary
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributesto climate change. Understanding the dynamics of soil N2O emissions is critical for developing climate-smart practices that mitigate climate change and promote environmental sustainability. The LI-7820-8250 Automated Long-term Soil N2O Flux System is a cutting-edge,well-integrated equipment that allows for real-time measurement and monitoring of soil N2O emissions in diverse environments, including croplands, forests, wetlands, and urban landscapes. Currently, the lack ofaccess to this equipment hampers several critical research projects in diverse areas of climate-smart agriculture, urban forestry, ecology, and environmental fields at Tennessee State University (TSU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). To address this issue, the project aims toacquire theLI-7820-8250 Automated Long-term Soil N2O Flux System to strengthen the research, education, and training infrastructure at TSU. By obtaining this equipment, TSU will promoteteam-oriented research through shared-user instrumentation; enhance the research capacity and overall productivity of TSU faculties; attract, educate, and train under-represented students and prepare them for a competitive workforce; and foster multi-institutional collaborations in the region.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	5210	1070	50%
102	0199	1070	20%
102	1599	1060	15%
102	1644	1060	15%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
1644 - Winter annual legumes; 1599 - Grain crops, general/other; 0199 - Soil and land, general; 5210 - Fertilizers;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology;

Goals / Objectives
The primary goal of this project is to acquire the state-of-the-art LI-7820-8250 Automated Long-term Soil N2O Flux System to strengthen research, education, and training infrastructure at Tennessee State University (TSU) in areas of climate-smart agriculture, ecology, and environmental fields.

Project Methods
In Fall 2024-Spring 2025, we will acquireLI-7820-8250 Automated Long-term Soil N2O Flux System from LI-COR Biosciences. Initial hands-on trainings will be scheduled for potential end-users of the equopemnt at TSUfrom vendorson proper installation, usage, configuration, and troubleshooting. This training events will be advertised via mass media communication. The project team will develop and circulateStandard Operating Procedures (SOPs) among end-users. The project team will also develop and circulatean online reservation platform (e.g., shared Google calendar) to facilitate timely booking and keep track on equipment usage among multiple users.In summer 2025, the equipment will be deployed in one of the ongoing USDA-NIFA funded field trial at the TSU Agricultural and Research Education Center (AREC) farm in Nashville. High-frequency data on soil N2O fluxes will be collected and demonstrated for research, education, and training purposes.In Fall 2025, the project team will develop and circulate data management plan to facilitate seamless data collection, analysis, reporting, and sharing among multiple end-user groups. Furthermore,a slack channel will be created and maintained for timely communication and coordination among end users. In co-ordination witl the TSU IT services, the project team will create aninstitutional OneDrive folder with unlimited storage to share protocols, data, reports, presentations, and manuscripts resulting from equipment's usage. This will serve as a platform to document long-term sustainability and impact of the acquired equipment.In 2025-2028 and beyond, we will schedule and conduct routine field visits to ensure proper functioning of the acquired equipment and ensure data quality via frequent downloads and visualization.Annual maintenance and service checks will be scheduled during crop planting or harvest times (i.e., when equipment is not in use). This will ensure proper functioning of equipment and avoid any instrument downtime. The project team will provide in-person trainings and instructions on proper installation and usage at no cost to first-time users of the equipment for the life of this equipment. The PI will host twoin-person meetings each year to provide updates on equipment usage and any performed maintenance or repairs; identify workflow constraints; and develop sustainability plan. The project team will collaboratively develop a 2-week practical curriculum and integrate into 'AGSC 2200- Fundamentals of Soil Science' course for educating and training undergraduate students. Finally, theequipment's usage and impact will be documented in a continuous basis via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, extension activities, and secured extramural funding.A continuation and sustainability plan will be developed to ensure that the acquired equipment is maintained, utilized effectively, and continues to have a positive impact on climate-smart research, education, and training activities at TSU. Our plan will include: (a) Routine maintenance and repair including establishing procedures for prompt troubleshooting; (b) Routine training for all potential end-users on its operation and maintenance; (c) Demonstrating equipment's impact through dissemination of results via presentations and publications; and (d) Seeking out partnerships and collaborations to secure additional research funding and resources for equipment's sustainability. Furthermore, all project resources and infrastructure will be continuously updated, utilized, and sustained for the life of this equipment (expected: 20+ years). By acquiring this cutting-edge equipment and by developing the needed infrastructure, we will significantly bolster TSU's capacity and capabilities in research, education, and training within the realm of climate-smart agriculture and effectively contribute towards USDA's strategic goals to combat climate change.