NPEC - Ecotron

The facility 

The NPEC Ecotron facility at Utrecht University consists of two types of EcoLab fully closed and controlled mesocosm systems that allow for real-life plant (agro-) ecosystems analyses in real time. The so-called standard model provides a full range of control and above- and below-ground sensors, with air temperature controlled via adjustable ambient room conditions. The climate-controlled model allows for precise atmosphere temperature and humidity control per unit. In total, the NPEC Ecotron facility at Utrecht University offers a wide range of experimental flexibility and throughput, allowing researchers to precisely track above and below-ground parameters at a scale and complexity level that simulates real-life conditions. 

In the precision mesocosm-level Ecotron, researchers can simulate agricultural and natural ecosystems. They can mimic the complexity of the real world in closed systems in which all aspects can be controlled and measured. Ecotrons provide ideal facilities for studying above- and below-ground processes to discover which combinations of crops work well together, what the best conditions are for ensuring efficient use of nutrients and preserving soil fertility, and how plants interact with other plants and soil life. Each unit provides a full range of control over the experimental conditions, such as independent control of soil and atmospheric temperature and humidity, artificial daylight, rain, mass balance, and automatic pore water sampling. Online cameras allow researchers to track above and plant properties, while root tubes open up a window to track root development. 

Research topics 

Soil-plant interactions, plants, soil, climate, temperature, humidity 

References 

• Lili Yao, Rick van de Zedde, George Kowalchuk (2021). Recent developments and potential of robotics in plant eco-phenotyping. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences 5 (2): 289–300. https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20200275 

Conditions for access 

Research questions or experiment with the NPEC ecotrons can be requested via a form on the NPEC website: www.npec.nl.