Frequently Asked Questions about using the Phytotron   Who uses the National Phytotron? What facilities are available? What services are offered? How is research space allocated? What supplies and equipment are available to Phytotron users? What does it cost to run an experiment in the National Phytotron? How can I apply for research space? Who do I contact if I have questions or special requests? Who uses the National Phytotron? Scientists, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students from all over the U.S. can utilize the controlled environment facilities at the Phytotron (consult our web site for an explanation of the fee structure for space use). Off-campus users are encouraged; in fact, historically, over 70% of Phytotron users have been from outside of Duke. Research and experimentation conducted in the National Phytotron has yielded an impressive record of scholarly publication over the past 33 years. What facilities are available? The National Phytotron contains 48 plant growth chambers, six controlled greenhouses - a total of over 450 square meters of growth space - and associated instrumentation and laboratories. Descriptions of the sizes, control capabilities, and numbers of these growth facilities can be found by following the Facilities link. A series of extensive renovations, begun in 1996, has been undertaken to ensure that the facility's equipment remains state-of-the-art. What services are offered? The National Phytotron provides all supplies and services necessary to conduct many types of controlled environment experiments, from the simplest to the most complex. The Phytotron staff performs all preparation, configuration, and maintenance of the growth chambers or greenhouse units, and any routine plant care requested, including watering, fertilization, and pest control. The Phytotron is staffed seven days a week, allowing off-site researchers to run experiments without having to make extended visits. Chambers and greenhouses are continuously monitored and maintained. Staff members are on call 24 hours a day to respond to environmental control problems before they adversely affect experiments in progress. Expertise in electronics and instrumentation is available for routine instrument maintenance or developing equipment for specialized uses. The Phytotron staff has extensive experience growing many species of native and agricultural plants from different habitats. Assistance with experimental design and data analysis is also available. How is research space allocated? Requests for the use of growth chamber or greenhouse space can be made at any time. No priority is given to researchers in a particular field or geographic location. Scheduling is at the user's convenience and is coordinated to make best use of the available space and funding cycles. Top of page What supplies and equipment are available to Phytotron users? The following supplies are provided free to Phytotron users: growth media pots fertilizer plant stakes paper bags and coin envelopes for drying plant samples The Phytotron owns the following equipment which is available for use in Phytotron experiments: drying ovens balances - analytical and toploading leaf area meters thermocouples quantum sensors dataloggers water potential measurement system (pressure bomb) LI-COR 6200 photosynthesis system Optronics spectroradiometer The following types of equipment can generally be borrowed from labs at Duke - by arrangement with professors - for use by Phytotron researchers: dataloggers soil moisture (TDR) probes sap flow measurement systems LI-COR 6400 photosynthesis system What does it cost to run an experiment in the National Phytotron? The Phytotron charges investigators for research space used on an area basis, currently approximately $6.00 and $3.25 per square meter per day in the growth chambers and greenhouses, respectively. You can use the chart below to estimate the total cost for controlled environment space rental for your project. Refer to the Facilities link for descriptions of the sizes and capabilities of different chambers, or download a Summary Table (pdf format) of this information. Chamber type Startup cost per chamber Rental cost per chamber per day 12 ft2 reach-in ("R") chamber $37.50 $7.50 32 ft2 walk-in ("S") chamber $100.00 $20.00 32 ft2 walk-in chamber (subdivided "L") $87.50 $17.50 96 ft2 walk-in ("L") chamber $250.00 $50.00 45 ft2, tall height walk-in ("T") chamber $125.00 $25.00 90 ft2, tall height walk-in ("T") chamber $200.00 $40.00 Greenhouse unit $200.00* $1.00/cart/day* *minimum charge is 40 carts ($40.00 per day), which can be split among several projects; carts are approximately 2 ft x 2 ft in area. To calculate the cost of your project: Determine the number of chambers you'll need (or carts if you're going to be using greenhouses). Determine the duration of your project Multiply #1 by the startup cost Multiply # 2 by # 1 Multiply # 4 by the rental cost per day Add # 3 and # 5. You can also download this table in spreadsheet form (Microsoft Excel® format); this file includes fields that will allow you to quickly estimate the cost of your project. Here are some examples that will give you an approximate idea about costs for various types of experiments: Example 1: Examining the population dynamics of two species of winter annuals at ambient and subambient CO2. Experiment requires the use of 6 "C" type reach-in chambers (3 replicates per CO2 treatment) for 75 days. The total cost would be $3,600.00. Example 2: (this is an example of a fairly large experiment) Examining the interacting effects of humidity (two levels), CO2 (2 levels), and drought. Experiment requires the use of eight "B" type walk-in chambers (2 replicates of each humidity X CO2 treatment; drought treatments applied within each chamber) for 90 days. The total cost would be $15,200.00. How can I apply for research space? We suggest that investigators interested in using the Phytotron for their research begin working with us at the planning stage. Since most Phytotron space charges are paid from research grants, the following steps are recommended: Use the worksheet below to calculate the approximate cost of your experiment. If you are applying for a grant, contact us for a letter of support to be included in your grant application. When you have obtained your funding, download the Phytotron Space Application form, fill it out and return it to us. Once we receive your application, we will contact you to set up a schedule for your project that meets your needs. Who do I contact if I have questions or special requests? If you have any questions, or if you wish to inquire about reserving space or to discuss special requests, please contact David Tremmel: Email: david.tremmel@duke.edu Phone: (919) 660-7415
		Last modified Mar. 27, 2002