The biometeorology laboratory of CNR ISAFOM

The biometeorology laboratory of the CNR ISAFOM has an established expertise into devising measuring apparatus aimed at applications in ecophysiology and micrometeorology of crop and forest systems. The activity is carried out in the main lab, in the adjacent open terrace and in the hardware shop one level below. Experimental apparatus are assembled in the lab and occasionally in the hardware shop, then tested in the terrace or garden. Remote link connections allow for real time monitoring of the instrumentation under test by means of acquisition devices placed inside. The actual experimental use of the instrumentation - after passing functional trials - is inside the laboratory, or rather in the experimental fields of ISAFOM and on forest or agricultural sites belonging to private farms or public institutions. The main lab is L-shaped and it is organized into two functional areas. In the micrometeorology area, it is carried out: assembling of experimental devices, calibration of sensors, functional and quality checks of set-ups aimed at logging of environmental data; chemicals are stored in this area; it is connected to the terrace and the backyard by means of data transmission lines. Includes a control area, equipped with a PC connected to data acquisition devices - dataloggers, scale, gas exchange apparatus etc. - via serial or Ethernet lines. In the agronomy and ecophysiology area the following activities are carried out: growth of potted plants; assembling, calibration, functional checks of devices for gas exchange and water relation measurements. It is equipped with a mini-phytotron and includes an area for biometric (dry matter and leaf area) and ecophysiological determinations (leaf and canopy gas exchange, xylem potential etc.). The station for technical gas management - typically N2, N20, CO2, dry air, certified tanks - is sited in this area. A bench is dedicated to soil related activities (TDR, soil respiration, soil temperature, soil heat flux etc.). Some among the most meaningful devices realized are briefly decribed.