NCR174: Synchrotron X-Ray Sources in Soil Science Research (NCR-174)
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NCR174: Synchrotron X-Ray Sources in Soil Science Research (NCR-174)
Duration: 10/01/2002 to 09/30/2004
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Human activity-agricultural, industrial, and military-often introduces potentially toxic concentrations of trace elements into soils. The cycling through and storage of carbon and nutrient elements in soils impact the climate and ecosystem processes. Understanding how both naturally-occurring and human-introduced elements are released by the soil, taken up by the plants, and move through the food chain is an important part of American agriculture's ability to provide a safe, nutritious, and abundant food supply, while maintaining or improving soil and environmental quality.
New experimental techniques made possible by synchrotron x-ray sources have ushered in a new era of agricultural and environmental research, allowing scientists to understand the chemistry of dilute elements in the environment. Synchrotrons are large accelerators that produce x-ray beams more than a billion times more powerful than conventional laboratory x-ray sources. Compared to conventional analytical procedures, synchrotrons allow us to analyze smaller samples with greater sensitivity, obtain higher quality data at better spatial resolutions, analyze samples under natural conditions, and utilize techniques which are only available at synchrotron sources. Unlike most instruments, synchrotrons function as national research facilities. NCR-174 plays an important role in facilitating access by agricultural scientists to this research instrumentation.
The soil and environmental scientists of NCR-174 have identified the following applications of synchrotron-based techniques focused on the theme of identifying the chemical form, concentration, and spatial distribution of trace elements, nutrients and carbon in soils, plants, and waste forms.
Chemistry of Toxic Elements in Soils and Plants. Applications: Design of cost effective, yet environmentally sound remediation procedures for contaminated sites, as well as sound disposal and beneficial use of sewage sludge, wood preservatives, fly ash, and other wastes. Develop recommendations for use of soils having naturally elevated concentrations of toxic elements such as selenium, arsenic or actinides. Evaluate the location and chemical form of contaminants in hyperaccumulators so as to understand mechanisms of detoxification and to develop proper management and disposal strategies of accumulated biomass.
Trace Elements in Plant Diseases. Applications: Improved control of soil-borne diseases of major crops such as wheat, rice, and forest trees. Provide an important link between plant biotechnology and soil science research.
Nutrient Chemistry of Soils. Applications: Improved soil-test procedures for potassium and phosphorus; identification of phosphorus forms in biosolids; improve application efficiency and cost effectiveness of these major nutrients by precision farming technology.
Mechanisms of Wood Decay and Metal-based Wood Preservatives. Applications: Improve strategies for the preservation of wood. Increase efficiency and decrease volume of copper-chromium-arsenic-based chemicals used to preserve wood; design methods for recycling preservative-treated wood.
Carbon Cycling in Soils and Peatlands. Applications: Improve methods for quantifying carbon turnover from original plant materials into humified products.
See attached for Additional Justification
Objectives
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To determine the chemical form, concentration, and spatial distribution of trace elements in soils, plants, and waste forms.
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To maximize the impact of synchrotron-based techniques in agricultural and forestry research by: a) disseminating information to the soil and environmental sciences community, b) organizing workshops and symposia, and c) working with potential new users of synchrotron-based research techniques.
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To seek funding for the on-going costs of synchrotron-based research in order to: a) construct experimental stations at synchrotron x-ray facilities which will meet the research needs of the soil and environmental sciences communities, and b) to provide funding for one or more staff scientists to be based at a national synchrotron facility who would assist agricultural scientists in conducting their synchrotron-based research.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
NCR-174 became active on October 1, 1992. Since that time, the committee has worked to help agricultural scientists to learn about the capabilities of synchrotron-based techniques and to facilitate the use of these techniques. Since 1992, the number of agricultural scientists who regularly use synchrotron-based techniques has grown from 2 or 3 to a point where symposia devoted to these techniques are a regular feature of national scientific meetings and a second generation of scientists, who were graduate students in the early stages, are now establishing research programs based in part on these methods.
NCR-174 is a member of the Consortium for Advanced Radiation Sources (CARS), a consortium organized to build research instrumentation at the Advanced Photon Source, the US's new third-generation synchrotron x-ray source at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. We participated with the geosciences community in preparing proposals to the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Dept. of Energy that funded the construction and staffing of joint GeoSoilEnviro beam lines at the Advanced Photon Source. NCR-174 members were part of the GeoSoilEnviroCARS instrument Design Teams and are continuing members of the Steering Committee. The GeoSoilEnviro beamlines were the first CARS operational beamlines and have been conducting experiments since 1998.
Recent interest among members of NCR-174 emphasizes increased application of soft x-ray sources and chemical microscopy. Since its inception, NCR-174 has placed its major emphasis on hard x-ray facilities (the National Synchrotron Light Source, the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and the Advance Photon Source). Recent initiatives by NCR-174 members suggest future research activities will expand to use soft x-ray facilities (University of Wisconsin Synchrotron Radiation Center and the Advanced Light Source) in the study of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and nitrogen cycling in soils.
Recommendation of the Appropriate NCA Committee
NCA-1 endorses continuation of the subject committee.
Organization/Governance
The executive committee of NCR-174 consists of William Bleam (Wisconsin, chair), Paul Bertsch (Georgia, vice-chair and CARS board representative). Michael Thompson (Iowa, secretary), Harvey Doner (California, CARS board representative), and Lyie Prunty (North Dakota, CARS board representative).
Literature Cited