Source: MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO submitted to
BUILDING A REGIONAL SOIL HEALTH INITIATIVE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1026300
Grant No.
2021-70001-34775
Cumulative Award Amt.
$149,565.00
Proposal No.
2020-11267
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 15, 2021
Project End Date
May 14, 2023
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[NLGCA]- Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture
Project Director
Geske, J.
Recipient Organization
MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO
236 WIGLEY ADMINISTRATION CTR
MANKATO,MN 56001
Performing Department
College of Science, Eng & Tech
Non Technical Summary
Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) proposes a Regular project focusing on both education and research intended to enhance experiential learning opportunities for students and expand the applied research capabilities of faculty and students. Building a Regional Soil Health Initiative (BRSHI) will increase the viability and sustainability of our Agricultural Sciences programs and our proposed School of Agriculture and establish MSU as a recognized regional resource for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR). The objectives of BRSHI are: 1) ensure technical competencies of students in our new Agricultural Sciences program, 2) increase applied research opportunities for faculty and students related to AFNR and 3) meet the workforce needs of agriculture and agribusiness in the region.Based on the outcomes of MSU's NIFA funded planning grant, BRSHI proposes educational and research objectives that further align with current and future regional needs.Soil Health was identified as one of the priority issues by industry stakeholders.Grant funds will be utilized to purchase laboratory equipment related to soil health, soil science and plant science necessary to build MSU's capacity to expand research and experiential learning opportunities for students and faculty in our AFNR programs.
Animal Health Component
55%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
45%
Applied
55%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020110102019%
1020110106017%
1020110107024%
1020110200017%
1020110206123%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology; 2061 - Pedology; 2000 - Chemistry; 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
The Building a Regional Soil Health Initiative (BRSHI) project at Minnesota State University Mankato (MSU) will enhance experiential learning opportunities for students and expand the applied research capabilities of faculty and students in the area of soil science, specifically focusing on Soil Health. BRSHI will increase the viability and sustainability of our Agricultural Sciences programs and our proposed School of Agriculture and establish MSU as a recognized regional resource for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR). The objectives of BRSHI are: 1) ensure technical competencies of students in our new Agricultural Sciences program, 2) increase applied research opportunities for faculty and students related to FANR and 3) meet the workforce needs of agriculture and agribusiness in the region.
Project Methods
Though Southern Minnesota is situated between three well-respected research land-grant universities, there nevertheless persists both a geographic and research gap in the area.Particularly, the need for translational research and community engagement has never been higher. Hence, we see the need to provide not only the workforce for the region, including industry employees and training for government agencies, but also to collaborate on research projects to identify solutions for water quality challenges in the region.For example, with our new soil-focused faculty, we are poised to work with students for training in research (experiential learning projects). Specifically, our Soil Ecologist (Dr. De) hopes to work with students on a novel application of crude glycerin (i.e., a biodiesel byproduct) as a soil amendment to temporarily store nitrogen when vulnerable to environmental loss and then resupply it to the next growing crop. Building soil health for healthy plants and water quality requires frequent analyses of soil, plants, and water samples from diverse management treatments. These analyses include measurements of pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nutrient availability (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous), enzyme assays, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and Chlorophyll-a. Hence, we are seeking support to acquire a "SynergyTM HTX Multi-Mode Microplate Reader," a "HACH Q440D Laboratory Dual Input, Multi-Parameter Meter," and an "Elemental Analyzer for soil CN" to strengthen his research program.Besides Dr. De's research, the research equipment will be useful to other researchers such as Dr. Beth Fisher, Dr. Matthew Kaproth, Dr. Kimberly Musser, and Dr. Christopher Ruhland working with soil health (mineral soils and their inputs), plant litter, and water. Acquiring the research instruments outlined in the budget will enhance and activate students' learning experiences, expand our research capacity with a wide range of analyses in a single instrument, save bench space, and increase the research teams' throughput and efficiency. This is especially important when assays and applications require multiplexing, which is typical in our field and lab-based experiments involving multiple treatment-replication combinations.

Progress 05/15/21 to 05/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is primarily undergraduate and graduate students at Minnesota State University Mankato enrolled in Agricultural Sciences programs as well as students enrolled in classes pertaining to Biogeochemistry, Plant Physiology, Soil Ecology and Environmental Sciences taught by the Co-PIs. A additional target audience is cooperating farmers in the region that are working with our Co-PIs on Soil Health related research projects. A secondary audience includes other farmers in the region that benefit from the research done with the cooperating farms (through field days, presentations and research publications). Additionally, High Ag Teachers and High school students in the region became another target audience. Information about this project and other activities in our new Agricultural Sciences Degree program was used to recruit students to our campus. Changes/Problems:1) Supply chain issues resulted in some of our supplies being unavailable at the beginning of the project (particularly for Dr De). Fortunatly, midway through year 2 of the project, we were able to get all the necessary supplies and from that point on our Co-PIs could make full use of the equipment we purchased as part of this grant. 2) A second challenge was that we had a change in University Administration during the grant time frame (a new President and a new Provost). Some of our plans for promoting and growing our programs were delayed until the new President and Provost set a direction of the program and approved moving forward with the new School of Agriculture. 3) a final challenge we face is not having a MSU-Mankato research plot/farm. For the forseable future, our faculty must partner with farmers and Agribusiness partners near campus to conduct soil health research projects. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr Ruhland attending a full-day training on the equipment he requested from the grant project. The PI and Co-PIs were all involved in bringing expert Soil Health speakers onto our campus as an additional opportunity for faculty and students to increase our knowledge and understanding of soil health practices. Three of these events happened in the final year of this project. There were some additional learning opportunities held on farms in the region. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?External industry advisory board members and a multitude of industry partners in the region have received information on our project and our agriculture degree programs. Thousand of prospective students have been reached with similar information. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1) Our 3 faculty Co-PIs were able to utilize the equipment purchased with these grant funds to enhance student experiential learning opportunities. Enrollment in our Soils classes increase dramatically over the time period of this grant. Because of the initial successes within our new Agricultural Science degree program, the Provost and President are moving forward with launching a brand new School of Agriculture her at Minnesota State University Mankato, with plans to add an Agronomy degree. Over 2,000 perspective students were reached in the last year, dramatically raising the awareness of our new Agriculture program. 2) Two of the Co-PIs (Drs De and Fisher) have started Soil Health research projects with farmers in the region. The projects have opportunities for student involvment in collecting and analyzing data. Dr De was able to leverage this grant to receive an additional Mn Department of Agriculture grant to support his farmer-led project. Another Co-PI (Musser) was able to use this grant to partner with multiple agencies and NGOs in the region to support Soil Health teams (farmer to farmer peer teams) to assist farms that decide to implement additional soil health practices on their farms. 3) Based on feedback from our external industry advisory partners, MSU-Mankato will be moving forward with launching a School of Agriculture and adding an Agronomy degree program.

Publications


    Progress 05/15/21 to 05/14/22

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The target audience is primarily undergraduate and graduate students at Minnesota State University Mankato enrolled in Agricultural Sciences programs as well as students enrolled in classes pertaining to Biogeochemistry, Plant Physiology, Soil Ecology and Environmental Sciences taught by the Co-PIs. A additional targetaudience is cooperating farmers in the region that are working with our Co-PIs on Soil Health related research projects. A secondary audience includes other farmers in the region that benefit from the research done with the cooperating farms (through field days, presentations and research publications). Changes/Problems:The first problem that we encountered was that the cost of our equipment in our original request had increased significantly (>15%) by the time funds were released. Dr De was willing to switch to a less expensive version of the equipment he wanted, we shifted a small amount of funds from our supply budget to equipment ($2,000), and the College of Science Engineering and Technology contributed a little over $5000 to cover the additional cost of Dr. Fischer's equipment request. A second challenge we faced is a supply chain issue. Dr De was unable to get a couple of the reagents needed for use of theBiotek Microplate Reader. That is the primary reason we have not had more FTEs devoted to this project during the first year. We anticipate that issue being resolved sometime during fall semester of 2022. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr. Ruhland attended a 1-week training on the use of his new equipment. Dr. De received a 1/2 day training on the use of his new equipment. Drs Fischer and De were invited to speak at a state-wide meeting of farmers and ag-professionals. Dr De was invited to present at an international conference in Scotland. Mr Geske presented a poster at the virtual NARRU conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Drs Fischer and De were invited to speak at a state-wide meeting of farmers and ag-professionals this past winter. Mr Geske has attended several high school career days, agricultural trade shows/events, and the state FFA convention - promoting our programs to prospective students. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The PI and Co-PIs plan to leverage this grant to seek additional grant funds to grow our capacity in Agricultrual Sciences as well as Agribusiness and Food Innovation. The PI will be part of the team that promotes our AgriScience and AgriBusiness programs in an effort to recruit students. The PI will continue to work with MSU-M administration to develop and expand 2+2 programs and articulation agreements with area two-year colleges. The PI will continue to meet with Ag-related employers in the region to identify partnership opportunities and ensure our programs are meeting the needs of employers in the region.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The Co-PIs purchased several pieces of equipment to aid in their teaching and research efforts, including: Elemental Analyzer, LI-COR LI-6800F Portable Photosynthesis System, LI-COR LI-3000C Portable Area Meter, Biotek Microplate Reader (with computer) and related supplies and materials. Dr De was able to obtain an additional MN Dept of Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant (approx. $25k) [Determine the impact of corn grown with perennial ground cover (PGC) alone and/or PGC-Poultry systems have on soil health, crop yield, and farm profitability]to conduct a soil health / cover crop research project with a cooperating farmer that will utilize the equipment purchased with this NIFA grant. Dr Ruhlandreceived a grant from the Midwest aquatic plant management society (approximately $40K) that relies upon use of these instruments.

    Publications