Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta focuses on the study and management of terrestrial landscapes and associated resources. Specific interests of the co-applicants include: biogeochemistry and organic matter processes (Quideau), hydrology (Silins); soil fertility (Hernandez Ramirez); environmental soil microbiology (Siddique); and forest ecology (Landh&auml;usser).<br /> <br /> Particle size distribution is a one of the master variables controlling overall soil quality, and it is central to many of the services soils provide to terrestrial ecosystems, including carbon sequestration, water availability, and nutrient storage. The particle size analyzer requested here would provide accurate and precise data to support some of our key research objectives related to soil, water, and forest research. <br /> <br /> As co-applicants, we and our respective students have ongoing projects requiring analysis of particle size in numerous environmental soil samples. Current methods of analysis (e.g.; hydrometer method) are very labour intensive, and this currently constitutes a major bottleneck of our research programs. Hence, the requested analyzer would significantly benefit ongoing research by providing faster (and more cost effective) in-house analysis of samples as well as allowing for hands-on training for HQP.