About Research Work Unit (RWU) SRS-4160
Mission of RWU SRS-4160
To quantify above- and below-ground processes governing sustainability of forest
function and productivity, predict forest functional dynamics, and model
the interaction of soil processes, plant physiology, forest management,
and the environment.
Analytical Lab
The USDA Forest Service Research Triangle Park analytical laboratory
has the capability to process foliage and soil samples from our many
studies relating to productivity and long-term growth. The lab has a
Nitrogen and Carbon Analyzer used to obtain total Nitrogen and Carbon
from foliage and soil samples. It also has an ICP (Inductively Coupled
Plasma) spectrometer to obtain nutrient levels of foliage samples. The
lab is equipped for many types of sample preparation, such as grinding,
weighing, oven and freeze drying, soil powdering, loss on ignition,
and acid digestions. Root sorting and soil sieving is routinely completed,
along with determining soil moisture content. The lab also has a small
greenhouse.
Research Sites and Studies
Research is carried out at various locations throughout the southern
United States. The Southeast Tree Research
and Education Site, also known as SETRES, is located in the Sandhills
of North Carolina near Laurinburg. The Croatan National Forest, near
Havelock, North Carolina, is the location of one of the Long
Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) studies. Camp Lejeune is the location
for research being conducted for the restoration
of longleaf pine ecosystems. See the Research
Studies page for more information on these and other research studies.
See the list of publications our scientists
have authored.
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