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
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
45%
Applied
55%
Developmental
(N/A)
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.