Instrument Acquisition to Analyze Water, Soils, and Biomass for Environmental Research, Monitoring, and Assessment

新墨西哥州立大学的Alexander Fernald博士和共同首席研究员Laurie Abbott博士、April Ulery博士和Clint Loest博士获得了摘要赠款，以获得用于环境研究、监测和评估的分析水、土壤和生物量的主要研究仪器。获批的资金将用于购买四台研究仪器：1)带有离子色谱仪的流动注射分析系统，用于分析水、土壤和生物质中的主要阳离子和阴离子；2)氮/碳分析仪，用于测定土壤和生物质中的氮和碳；3)激光衍射颗粒分析仪，用于测量悬浮沉积物和土壤的粒度分布；以及4)X射线荧光光谱分析仪，用于分析液体、土壤和生物固体中的金属。该仪器将支持旨在提供信息的研究，目的是：1)减少土地利用做法对环境的负面影响，2)提高新墨西哥州和干旱西南部的自然资源质量。土地利用对水、土壤和生物量的影响威胁到新墨西哥州牧场、森林、农业和野生动物的可持续经济利用和生态健康。随着对有限供水的竞争日益加剧，高质量灌溉和饮用水的可获得性减少，水质问题日益受到关注。新墨西哥州快速发展的奶牛场产生了大量的动物排泄物，来自圈养动物生产的污染威胁到了水和土壤资源。金属污染是新墨西哥州自然矿物质含量高的地区以及受采矿、军事和农业活动影响的地区的一个问题。作为一家为少数群体服务的土地授予机构，新墨西哥州州立大学的使命是进行有意义的研究，教育和培训科学家，并向该州公民传播信息。最先进的仪器将使大学研究人员进行必要的环境研究和完成教育使命的能力实现飞跃。该仪器最初将支持四名研究人员、三个系的教职员工和联邦研究人员的研究活动。它将用于培训研究生和本科生如何使用这些仪器，作为他们研究的一部分。获得这种设备将提高NMSU在未来拨款申请中的竞争力。这些设备将支持研究，以提供关键信息，使机构、社区和个人能够参与有意义和可持续的计划，减少土地利用做法对环境的负面影响，并提高水、土壤和生物质资源的质量。

ABSTRACTA grant has been awarded to Dr. Alexander Fernald and co-principalinvestigators Dr. Laurie Abbott, Dr. April Ulery, and Dr. Clint Loest at NewMexico State University to acquire major research instrumentation to analyzewater, soils, and biomass for environmental research, monitoring andassessment. The awarded funds will enable purchase of four researchinstruments: 1) a Flow Injection Analysis System with ion chromatograph for analysis of major cations and anions in water, soils, and biomass; 2)a Nitrogen/CarbonAnalyzer for determination of N and C in soils and biomass; 3)a Laser Diffraction Particle Analyzer for measuring particle size distribution of suspended sediment and soils; and 4) an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrum Analyzer for analysis of metals in liquids, soils, and biosolids. The instrumentation will support research that has the goal ofproviding information to: 1) reduce negative environmental effects of land usepractices, and 2) enhance quality of natural resources in New Mexico and thearid Southwest. Land use impacts on water, soil and biomass threatensustainable economic use and ecological health of rangeland, forest,agriculture, and wildlife in New Mexico. Water quality is a growing concernwith increasing competition for limited water supplies and decreasingavailability of high quality irrigation and drinking water. Rapidly growingdairies in New Mexico generate large amounts of animal waste, and pollutionfrom confined animal production threatens water and soil resources. Metalcontamination is a problem in areas of New Mexico with naturally high mineraloccurrence and in areas impacted by mining, military, and agriculturalactivities. As a minority-serving land grant institution, the mission of New Mexico StateUniversity is to conduct meaningful research, to educate and train scientists,and to extend information to the citizens of the state. The state-of-the-artinstrumentation will provide a leap forward in the ability of universityinvestigators to conduct needed environmental research and fulfill the missionto educate. The instrumentation will initially support the research activitiesof four investigators, faculty in three departments, and federal researchers. It will be used to train graduate and undergraduate students in the use of theinstruments as part of their research. Obtaining this equipment will increaseNMSU competitiveness for future grant proposals. The equipment will supportresearch to provide critical information that will allow agencies, communities,and individuals to participate in meaningful and sustainable programs thatreduce negative environmental effects of land use practices and that enhancethe quality of water, soil and biomass resources.