Iowa State University’s (ISU) Department of Agronomy is recognized as a global center of excellence engaging more than 190 faculty staff and students in cutting edge research, education and global programs. Faculty and students are working on solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges from food to fuel - including research on new varieties of mung bean for the plant-based protein market and potential uses for sorghum as a cheaper biofuel alternative to corn. Since 1986, Iowa State’s agronomy department has relied on Conviron growth chambers to test and replicate natural environmental conditions for its diversity of agricultural research projects.
The Challenge
The original plant growth chambers, 30 in total, served researchers well for three decades before technology upgrades became warranted. ISU endeavored to retrofit their fleet using non-Conviron replacement parts, however it became evident that doing so presented a safety hazard. While components could be retrofitted with Conviron OEM parts, when the facility evaluated upgrading several key systems simultaneously such as lights, control systems and refrigeration systems together – brand new chambers become economically attractive and the preferred course of action to position ISU for the future.
ISU also had an existing Argus control system that they wanted to keep. Primarily because there was no technological or obsolescence reason to replace the central control system but also that researchers really liked the Argus solution, it’s reliability over the years and grew accustomed to using it.
Once ISU arrived at a decision to replace the units there was a
period of approximately four years before federal funds were made
available to swap out the chambers. In the meantime, Conviron worked
with ISU closely to understand their research requirements and space
constraints to ensure they were ready for deployment and installation
when the funds became available.
However, once the funding was secured, it became evident that five
growth chambers would not fit in the elevator for eventual installation
to ISU’s basement space. Timing was crucial because the department of
agronomy, having received a USDA grant, required the units be
delivered before a set deadline or the funding eligibility would expire.
The entire Conviron team has been so helpful through the entire process from planning to purchasing to installation, to commissioning, to troubleshooting that I can’t even imagine having had a better experience with them in regard to a professional and highly responsive team effort.
Aaron Brand, Plant Growth Facility Manager
Solution
It took some quick thinking but fortunately Conviron has a wide product lineup and the client relationship manager was able to find a suitable chamber that would fit into the elevator space yet still meet the research team’s needs. Conviron identified a chamber that was nearly the same interior growing space - 15 ft2 versus 19 ft2. In total, the project became a multimillion-dollar facility upgrade that involved the installation of several Conviron models:
Each of the plant growth chambers have the latest CMP6060 Conviron controllers but, uniquely, are centrally controlled/monitored by the existing Argus control system – which is fully compatible with Conviron chambers and rooms. A Conviron commissioning and testing specialist also worked with ISU to set up new computers that allow the researchers to manage all the chambers in the agronomy hall from a single access point, which allows for remote diagnosis of any problems by the research team.
The data we have generated so far from the growth chambers is incredibly high quality. A unique characteristic of the chambers is the ability to alter weather conditions (temperature, RH, radiation) every 30 minutes. We probably have the best growth chamber facilities in the USA to run controlled condition experiments and generate parameters for use in APSIM crop model.
Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis, Associate Professor of Integrated Cropping Systems
Result & Recognition
Aaron Brand, plant growth facility manager at ISU, appreciated that Conviron was able to innovate to balance sizing requirements without compromising the flexibility the department needed to achieve its goals. “For our project when we needed a chamber that would fit height wise, Conviron was able to come through with a chamber that fit the exact height that we had as a height restriction without compromising any other features of the product” said Brand.
Brand also noted that the Conviron team provided one-on-one onsite training and was available at any time to quickly troubleshoot issues when they arose – providing the outcome ISU desired - a state of the art plant growth facility.
The Conviron and Argus team’s focus on client needs caught the attention of
ISU’s procurement services office. In May 2023, the department honored
Conviron and Argus with its Supplier of the Year award. The award
recognizes suppliers that:
Provide extraordinary customer service
Engage in collaborative efforts
Provide solutions that positively impact ISU
Pivot with the university and guide it through unforeseen issues
