IButton fever

For the last few weeks we have been trying to understand how to use iButtons for our experiment. We got pretty frustrated because someone forgot to include a manual with the equipment (I'm looking at you, Maxum Integrated). IButtons remotely record the temperature, allowing us to gather multiple data points over a period of time. We were  eventually able to set them up to record the temperature once every hour, on the hour.

Susanna showing off her hard work.

We then planted the iButtons in a randomly selected trays of each experimental group. Each iButton was double bagged of course to prevent water damage.

Me, getting ready to plant an iButton.

Digging the hole.

A well planted iButton.

We also placed three iButtons on the bare roof to measure background roof temperature. Through these temperature measurements, we expect to see lower temperatures in the green roof soil compared to the bare roof temperature.

One of three hot roof iButtons.

After 2000 hours (that's all the storage the iButtons have) we will collect them and finally be able to see some data. After a few days, we downloaded the measurements from one of the bare roof iButtons to see if they were working. We were so excited to see beautiful oscillating data between night and day temperatures.

Corn harvest and root washing

Last week, we harvested the MIP corn. We had to do so carefully as to preserve the stalk and root tissues while also separating them for individual analysis.

Dr. Chaudhary demonstrating the harvest method.

We used clippers to cut the stalk at the very base and put it in a paper bag for later. We then put the conetainer, containing the roots, into plastic bag and into the freezer. We put them in the freezer to stop all biological activity, especially decomposition. 

We want to weigh and record the root tissue mass, but we first must wash all of the soil off of the roots (The roots are very dirty). We do this very carefully.

Gaze in wonder at my clean roots

We then collect some of the tissue to be made into slides and save the rest for weighing.