The Biotron

Primarily, the facility is intended for plant research, but it is also suitable for other types of research that require climate chambers with a high degree of control and sanitation.

Take a look inside the Biotron:

Short facts about the Biotron

This research facility of approximately 1100 square meters is equipped with state of the art technology offering high precision in light, temperature, humidity and CO2.

There are 24 climatized chambers of four different kinds - climate chambers, daylight chambers, greenhouse chambers for precision experiments and growth chambers for propagation of plant material.

In the most advanced chambers, it is possible to simulate realistic growing conditions in different places in the world, including varying day temperature. LED lighting is used to mimic sunlight spectral composition. The new facility increases reliability, and factors such as humidity and air circulation are controlled with greater accuracy than before.

The Biotron comprises of, in total, 24 different rooms of four different types of rooms with varying demands on climatization.

There are:

• 12 climatized rooms with artificial light (KK),
• 4 climatized rooms with daylight, supplemented with artificial light (DK),
• 4 growth chambers (OK) and
• 4 greenhouse chambers (VK).

Chambers of type KK and OK are equipped with artificial lighting, while DK and VK chambers use natural light through transparent covering layers. The covering consists of multiple layers of insulating glass.

Two different zones

All rooms are individual and there is no influence between chambers. They are split in two different zones, separated from each other completely as regards impenetrability and access. The zones are accessed through an air lock.

A considerable part of the Biotron meets the standards required for research in enclosed facilities, avoiding contamination of other facilities or the environment. All rooms and chambers have surveillance of climate and alarm functions. If there is an alarm, technical staff will always take measures to correct. There is staff on duty outside normal working hours.

Energy optimisation

The use of energy for the entire facility is optimised by recovery of excess heat. This, however, does not apply to the greenhouse chambers (VK), which are ventilated with traditional wall and roof ventilation openings.

Security

Large parts of the facility meet the standards for research requiring containment to prevent contamination of the environment. Access is granted only to users/customers who have operations in the facility and to personnel associated with it, as well as service and emergency personnel. The entire facility is equipped with an alarm system to prevent unauthorized entry.

Example of resources in the Biotron

Growth units that can be used for precision studies of nutrient element uptake, growth rate etc. Root temperature, conductivity, and pH can be controlled in the root compartment. Nutrient element are sprayed on the root. Together with a separate shoot compartment it is possible to study carbon dioxide uptake and transpiration concurrent with nutrient uptake, image to the right.

Containers that can be used to study growth rate together with nurient and other environmental conditions. Studies can be performed from sowing to harvest. Systems with automatic control of water can be installed.

Smaller containers that can be used to study growth rate toghether with nutrient and other environmental conditions.

Laboratory rooms where, among other things, nutrient solutions can be put together. It is also possible to measure conductivity and pH with our reference measuring equipment.

System for image analysis. The system is normally used for leaf area measurements.

All computer programs for regulation and control of growth in our growth units are developed at the Biotron. Programs for different climat measurements, nutrient solution mixtures, SMS based alarm system and evaluation of experimental data are also developed at the Biotron.

What we can offer

When renting a climate chamber in the Biotron, the customer get a calibrated and tested chamber concerning temperature, humidity, light intensity and CO2. Neccesary exchange of fluorscent tubes are included.

The customer also get supervision of the chamber climate and chamber functions. Cost for emergency services are included. If customers behavior results in an error the customer has to pay. 

What we more can offer:

Perform different types of light measurements
Assist with drying cabinattes
Assist with diffrent types of scales
Assist with CO2
Assist with dark room
Assist with log file

Research at the Biotron

With a facility as the Biotron it is possible to carry out research experiment under controlled conditions. Hence it is possible to cultivate plants under equal conditions each time. This is a absolute condition for scientific research. This together with our growth units makes it possible to carry out qualified research on plants.

Below two different projects is shown as examples on research when the Biotron growth units has been used.

Sugar beet - Trial of quantitative properties in growth units under strict dynamic control of nutrient uptake and growth. Effects of pH, nutrient supply and other environmental conditions have been studied on sugar beet. Maximum growth capacity has been established as a base for quantitative determination of different types of growth limitations.

Potato - Introductory studies of controlled supply of nutrient elements in optimal proportions. The studies was carried out using the growth units in the Biotron.

Examples over some other plant species grown and studied under strictly controlled supply of nutrient elements:

Alfalfa
Apple tree
Barley
Beech
Birch
Cabbage
Carrot
Lettuce
Oats
Oilseed rape
Rice
Tomato
Wheat

Four phases from basic research work to establish quantitative properties of plants to field experiments

• Research procedure in four phases 3 under controlled conditions and the last phase under nartural conditions.
• Phase 1 involves establishing of quantiviative plant properties under extremely controlled dynamic conditions.
• Phase 2 involves combination of plant properties and root substrate, e.g. soil, under controlled conditions.
• Phase 3 involves studies of properties established for plant-soil system under controlled field-like conditions until harvest, e.g. testing different growth models.
• Phase 4 involves model validation under natural conditions in the field.