Efficient research around the year - outside and in the laboratory

Root system of a Scots pine seedlings. Photo: Anna Korhonen.

The root studies are carried out in the laboratory (pdf) and in field conditions in summer and in winter (pdf).

The laboratory studies are performed in a special type of growth chambers, dasotrons, where air and soil conditions can be controlled independently. The dasotrons allow to speed-up the annual cycle of trees that consists of growth and dormancy phases. Accordingly, it is possible to perform two annual cycles of trees in one calendar year. The dasotrons are several meters in height which allows the growing of fairly large trees.

The conditions in the dasotrons are strictly controlled. Therefore, detailed information on tree functions in different climatic conditions and annual stages of development can be obtained. Furthermore, the experiments allow the testing of methods before they are applied in field experiments. The field experiments with adult trees are used to compare and to validate the results of the laboratory experiments.

The experiments in growth chambers and field conditions have dealt with the effects of low soil temperature and soil frost on physiology, anatomy, phenology and growth of trees.The on-going project deals with the effects of soil frost and root hypoxia as caused by waterlogging on trees. A new method for electrical impedance of soil and monitoring root growth and absorption properties is currently under development.

	Scots pine seedlings raised in long day and warm temperature conditions. Photo: Varpu Heiskanen.

Methods (posters, pdf)
Artificially delayed soil frost: field study
Dasotrons
Soil frost study in the dasotrons
Root vitality
Electrical properties of soil
Root study by electricl impedance
Earth impedance: Field study
Earth impedance: Hydroponic study
Cold hardiness of roots