Iowa State University Department of Agronomy Growth Chamber Operating Procedures Manual

The purpose of the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy Growth Chambers are to support basic and applied plant research through a controlled environment for research and teaching. There are 30 Growth Chambers available for use, totaling approximately 880 square feet. These chambers can provide specific light or temperature regimens that may not be possible in the greenhouse. 28 of the 30 chambers are located in Agronomy Hall and the remaining 2 are located at the Agronomy Greenhouse. The purpose of this manual is to outline the policies and responsibilities for all users and staff of the growth chambers.

Any questions regarding the use of the Agronomy Department Growth Chambers, requests for space, or equipment maintenance are to be directed to:

Aaron Brand Greenhouse Manager 2104H Agronomy Hall 515-294-6904 [email protected]

Greenhouse, Growth Chamber, and Cold Storage Committee

Aaron Brand – Chair Madhi Al-Kaisi Madan Bhattacharyya USCHi Frei Larry Lockhart Kan Wang

pg. 1 Table of Contents 1. General Information pg. 3 Hours of Operation

Safety Signature Page 2. Space Allocation pg. 4 3. User Responsibilities pg. 5 - 6 Identification Scouting/Pest Control User Pesticide Applications Cleaning and Sanitation Plant Material Trash Restrictions 4. Greenhouse Manger Responsibilities pg. 7 Monitoring and Maintenance Environmental Controls Implementation of IPM/Pesticide Application Record-keeping 5. Growth Chamber Descriptions pg. 8 - 9 6. Fee Schedule pg. 10 7. Signature Page pg. 11 8. Growth Chamber Space Request Form pg. 12 - 13

pg. 2 General Information

Hours of Operation Normal hours of operation for the Agronomy Department’s Growth Chambers (herein referred to as the Growth Chambers are 7:00 AM – 6:-00 PM Monday through Friday, which are the same as Agronomy Hall’s hours. Any other time is considered “after hours.” Entry into Agronomy Hall during after hours times, University holidays, and any other days that the University is closed requires the use of a key or access via proxy card (generally the user’s ISU Card). All users wishing to enter Agronomy Hall outside of the regular hours must fill out a key request form and have it approved by their supervising faculty member and then the application must be submitted to the department’s key coordinator. For security purposes, keys are only to be in the possession of the person to which they are assigned. Entry into the growth chambers is available at all hours to users with a key to Agronomy Hall.

Safety Working in the Growth Chambers requires that all users be committed to safety and work so that the health of all users is not endangered.

ALL greenhouse users must attend a mandatory safety training session. This session goes over the EPA’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS), which is a regulation aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning of agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. The WPS contains requirements for pesticide safety training, notification of pesticide applications, use of personal protective equipment, restricted-entry intervals after pesticide applications, and emergency medical assistance. The WPS training consists of watching a video presentation or a live presentation and filling out the proper paperwork stating that the user has completed the WPS training. WPS training is effective for 5 years. WPS training is federally mandated to be completed within 5 days of the beginning of working in an environment where pesticides or their residues may be present. This training can either be done with the Greenhouse Manager or through EH&S. If the WPS training has been completed through EH&S, proof of the completion of this program must be provided for the Greenhouse Manager.

pg. 3 Signature Page All users must complete the signature page before being assigned space in the greenhouse. See pg. 11.

Space Allocation

All requests for space must be made using a Growth Chamber Request Form as far in advance as possible. Completed forms should be returned to the Greenhouse Manager. All Growth Chamber Request forms must be fully completed to be considered. All requests will be filled on a first come first served basis so incomplete forms may delay your space assignment. Note: Demand for space in the Growth Chambers is typically very high. We may not be able to accommodate all requests for several weeks or more. Submit your Growth Chamber Request forms as soon as possible.

No space will be allocated indefinitely. All projects must have a proposed end date. Please allow time in your requests for proper cleaning and sanitizing of the chamber. Long term users must renew their space requests every six (6) months. The Greenhouse Manager must be notified of any breaks in use from long term users. If the break is long enough for other users to start and finish their work, this space will be reallocated for the length of time necessary and returned to the long term user upon completion of the other project.

Project extensions can be requested at least one week before the proposed end date. Extensions are for one week increments and cannot be made indefinitely. If other users are waiting for the space, after two (2) extensions have been requested the current user may be asked to justify their extension. If seed was late or there is any other supplier issue please notify the Greenhouse Manager as soon as possible, as it will be easier to make changes to the schedule at the beginning. The Greenhouse Manager will track end dates and will send out reminders via email. If an extension is necessary, please respond to the reminder email or contact the Greenhouse Manager in advance.

pg. 4 A growth chamber may be held in reserve for a maximum of two (2) weeks prior to the beginning of the user’s project to allow them time to assemble necessary equipment and supplies. Space will be billed to a project for the entire time space is held in reserve or in use.

Research projects being conducted by Agronomy Department students and their research groups will take precedence over outside users.

Unused Space Space that is assigned but not actively used for a period longer than 2 weeks will be subject to reassignment. Any time that a user knows that the chamber will be idle for longer than 2 weeks will require the communication of a reasonable schedule of usage to the greenhouse manager or the chamber may be reassigned if there is a waiting list. When a chamber is reassigned the former user will be notified by email that it has been reassigned and is no longer in their inventory. A reassigned chamber will require a new reservation form to be completed to begin using that space again and be added to the waiting list.

User Responsibilities

Identification Identification cards are to be filled out prior to occupation of the growth chambers and submitted to the Greenhouse Manager. These cards must identify the Principal Investigator (PI) and any other users of the space. Included on these cards will be emergency contact information. Ultimately the PI is responsible for their research projects.

Scouting/Pest Control Monitoring of insects and diseases is to be conducted by the user weekly. Insect infestations must be reported to the Greenhouse Manager in a timely manner for proper control. Every effort will be made to make all chemical applications within 48 hours of notification, unless notification is made going into a weekend, at which time the application will be made on the first day of the next week. All chemical applications will be made after 3:00 PM and the identified users will be notified of applications in their growth chambers and when re-entry will be allowed via email no later than the afternoon prior to the application, unless it is requested that the application be made the same day. It is the responsibility of the user to have all daily work completed by 3:00 PM.

Shelving

pg. 5 Wire shelves are provided for all growth chambers. All plant material should be placed on the shelves to allow for proper air flow through the chamber. All heating, cooling, and air circulation comes from the floor and if it is blocked the chamber will not function properly.

User Pesticide Applications All pesticide applicators must abide by all Federal and State laws. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and properly disposal of empty containers per the label instructions. Any pesticides being applied by a user must be pre-approved by the Greenhouse Manager, be applied by a WPS trained handler, be properly documented in accordance with Federal and State Law, and posted in G544 on the clipboard outside of Room G544A. No one will be allowed to apply pesticides without the proper training. Prior to approval of pesticide application proof of current WPS training will need to be provided for the Greenhouse Manager

All pesticides must be secured in a locked room or locked storage cabinet when not in use, per Federal and State regulations. Pesticides not provided by the Greenhouse Manager will need to be identified with the user’s name in indelible ink, such as a permanent marker for easy identification. Chemicals not properly stored and identified will be confiscated and be available by request only.

Failure to comply with Federal and State laws and/or the procedures above will have the following consequences:  First offense: Written warning to user and the faculty member responsible  Second offense: Written warning and $100 fine  Third offense: Written notification, $250 fine, and termination of growth chamber access for the PI

Cleaning and Sanitation

Please clean up any soil or plant material on the tables, floor, and in chambers. A broom and dust pans are provided for cleaning up. Keep all hose ends off of the floor when not in use. Hoses must be kept tidy so that they avoid becoming trip hazards. All water spigots must be turned off when not in use.

All users are to keep their chambers clean and organized on a daily basis. Do not store unneeded equipment or materials in a chamber because they provide possible shelter for insect and disease organisms. If such storage is observed the user will be contacted to justify the necessity of the items. If no use is identified the user will be given one (1) week to remove the items or the greenhouse staff will remove the items and a $250 cleaning fee will be assessed.

pg. 6 Cleaning and disinfecting of growth chambers should be done by the user that is vacating the chamber. This is to minimize any buildup of organic matter that may house insect or disease pests in the chamber or clog the floor drain. It is recommended that long term users do this sanitation periodically as well. This should be done by sweeping up and disposing of any debris left on the floors, washing out the chamber with water, and then sanitizing the floors, benches, and walls. This can be done with a 10% bleach solution or other disinfectant, which will be supplied by the Greenhouse Manager upon request. Failure to clean and sanitize the compartment will result in a $250 cleaning fee being assessed.

Upon completion of the project, the user is expected to remove all equipment and materials by the stated project end date. If all items are not removed in that time period the greenhouse staff will remove the items and charge the user a $250 cleaning fee plus a $10 per day storage fee for stored items. If a compartment is cleaned out by the greenhouse staff the user will be notified via email immediately and will be allowed to retrieve stored items by appointment. If stored items are left for more than 30 days the user will be charged a total of $300 in storage fees and the items will be discarded. The Greenhouse Manager and Agronomy Department will not be responsible for damage to any equipment that is not removed by the user.

Plant Material Any plant material that is no longer needed for projects should be discarded immediately. Discarded plant materials should be disposed of in the trash cans labeled for compost. Any plant material that is genetically modified, or in other ways restricted, must be devitalized or destroyed before disposal, as per ISU Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) policy. Contact EH&S for guidance on proper procedures (294-5359).

Trash Please dispose of all large items and potting media bags in the dumpster outside of the Agronomy Hall loading dock. Smaller items, dirt from the floor, etc. may be placed in the proper trash cans in the growth chamber rooms. Any items left outside of the chambers will be considered trash and be disposed of.

Restrictions Projects with strong or unpleasant odors will not be allowed in the growth chambers.

Greenhouse Manager Responsibilities

Monitoring and Maintenance The Greenhouse Manager will be responsible for weekly monitoring of the lights in the chambers and change bulbs or schedule repairs as necessary. Repairs will be made as soon as possible after a need has been identified, either by the user or the Greenhouse Manager. Maintenance needs identified by a growth chamber user should be reported to the Greenhouse Manager. Need for

pg. 7 facility upgrades will be identified by the Greenhouse, Growth Chamber, and Cold Storage Committee.

Environmental Controls All environmental controls are to be set by the Greenhouse Manager and greenhouse staff. Any temperature or lighting needs should be communicated to the Greenhouse Manager. The Greenhouse Manager will not be responsible for incorrect settings that are changed by the user. All settings should be included on the Growth Chamber Request form so they can be set by the Greenhouse Manager. Questionable settings that are observed will be reset to the settings from the Growth Chamber Request form and the user will be notified. Changes to the environmental controls can be made at any time by communicating the new settings to the Greenhouse Manager in writing and will be updated on the Greenhouse Space Request form.

Implementation of IPM/Pesticide Application The Greenhouse Manager will be the primary pesticide applicator for doing applications for pest control. After being notified by the user that there is a need for pest control the Greenhouse Manager will select an appropriate course of action for the specified pest(s). The first application shall be made within 48 hours of notification, but generally will be completed the next business day to give the users time to complete their daily goals. The growth chamber users will be notified once the application has been scheduled. All applications will be made after 3:00 PM.

Difficult to control pests (spider mites, thrips, etc.) will be treated at least twice, with the second application being 7-10 days after the first. A reminder will be sent out via email to the identified users the afternoon before the second application is to be made. If additional treatments are necessary for acceptable control the user should notify the Greenhouse Manager as early as possible.

Record-keeping The Greenhouse Manager will maintain all records for chemicals applied in the Growth Chambers to comply with Federal and State laws. All applications will be posted on the clipboard outside of Room G544A for a minimum of 30 days. Any applications that are made by growth chamber users must also be posted on this clipboard. All MSDS forms for chemicals used in the chambers are to be kept in the notebook outside of Room G544A.

Light Bulb Replacement All HID and fluorescent light bulbs will be replaced approximately every 7000 hours, or when they fail if it is before 7000 hours. Any group requesting that the lights be changed before the 7000 hours has elapsed will be charged for their replacement.

Growth Chamber Descriptions pg. 8 There are 3 different sized growth chambers with different features. All dimensions and descriptions are included below, as well as the number of chambers of each size available. (Square foot calculation is rounded to the nearest whole number)

Growth Chamber Model E15 11 Chambers available Reach in Chamber - 15 square feet 72.5” x 30.5” Maximum Growth Height – 45” 4 banks of fluorescent tubes and 4 banks of incandescent lights Chambers: RSE8, RSE9, RSE10, RSE11, RSE12, RSE13, RSE 20, RSE21, RSE26, RSE27, RSE28

Growth Chamber Model E15-HID 2 Chambers available Reach in Chamber - 15 square feet 72.5” x 30.5” Maximum Growth Height – 45” 6 Metal Halide lights Chambers: RSE 18, RSE 19

Growth Chamber Model PGV36 2 chambers available Walk in Chamber - 36 square feet growing area, 60 square feet total 89” x 96.25” Maximum Growth Height – 80” 4 banks of fluorescent tubes and 4 banks of incandescent lights Chambers: RSE1, RSE23

Growth Chamber Model PGW36 13 chambers available Reach in Chamber - 36 square feet 97.5” x 53.5” Maximum Growth Height – 77” 4 banks of fluorescent tubes and 4 banks of incandescent lights Chambers: RSE2, RSE3, RSE4, RSE5, RSE6, RSE7, RSE14, RSE15, RSE22, RSE24, RSE25, Greenhouse1, Greenhouse2

pg. 9 Growth Chamber Model PGW36M 13 chambers available Reach in Chamber - 36 square feet 97.5” x 53.5” Maximum Growth Height – 88” 8 banks of fluorescent tubes and 8 banks of incandescent lights Chambers: RSE14, RSE15

Growth Chamber Model PGW36T 2 chambers available Reach in Chamber - 36 square feet 97.5” x 53.5” Maximum Growth Height – 132” 8 banks of fluorescent tubes and 8 banks of incandescent lights Chambers: RSE16, RSE17

pg. 10 Fee Schedule

Space Usage Fees The daily growth chamber rates are listed below with increases that will be seen in the upcoming years. These fees will be implemented on July 1 of the respective year. Please see pages 8 - 9 for growth chamber descriptions.

36 ft2 HID Chambers (RSE16 and RSE17): 2014 – $4.55 2015 – $5.60 2016 – $6.65 2017 – $7.70 2018 – $8.75

36ft2 Fluorescent Chambers (RSE 1, RSE2, RSE3, RSE4, RSE5, RSE6, RSE7, RSE14, RSE15, RSE22, RSE23, RSE24, RSE25, GH RSE1, GH RSE2): 2014 – $4.05 2015 – $4.85 2016 – $5.65 2017 – $6.45

15ft2 HID Chambers (RSE18, RSE19): 2014 – $3.25 2015 – $4.00 2016 – $5.10

15ft2 Fluorescent Chambers (RSE8, RSE10, RSE11, RSE12, RSE13, RSE20, RSE21, RSE26, RSE27, RSE28):

pg. 11 2014 – $3.25 2015 – $4.00 2016 – $4.65

Percival E41-L2 Arabidopsis Chambers (RSE29, RSE30) 2014 – $2.75 2015 – $2.75 2016 – $2.75

Fines – Failure to Comply with Federal or State laws and growth chamber procedures - 2nd offense - $100 - 3rd offense - $250 and termination of growth chamber privileges Cleaning – - Storage of unnecessary items in a growth chamber - $250 - Compartment not cleaned and sanitized upon project completion - $250 Storage – - Storage of items not removed from compartment upon project completion - $10/day (max $300)

Signature Page Please provide this completed page with your request for growth chamber space to the Greenhouse Manager (see pg. 1).

I understand and accept the terms outlined in the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy Growth Chamber Operating Procedures Manual:

Signature______

Printed Name______

Responsible Faculty Member______

Date______

pg. 12 Growth Chamber Space Request Form Date:

Faculty Member Responsible Name: Email: Phone:

Signature: Date:

pg. 13 Principal Growth Chamber User (additional users may be identified on a separate sheet) Name: Email: Phone:

Signature: Date:

Department: Account #: After Hours Emergency Notification: Contact Name/Phone:

Project Start Date ______Project End Date: ______

Square feet needed: ______Maximum Growth Height: ______

Brief Project Description/Equipment Setup:

Environmental Requirements:

a) Temperature: Day______Night______b) Photoperiod:  Hours – day/night (ex. 16 day/8 night)______ Light level needed ______pg. 14 Comments:

pg. 15