{"id":833,"date":"2026-06-16T13:51:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T11:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/hydrology\/?page_id=833"},"modified":"2026-09-11T09:12:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T07:12:52","slug":"ecotron-lab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/hydrology\/ecotron-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecotron lab"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lire cette page en fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Ecotron Ecolab Flex 3-300, named “Terra. Left: Opened Ecotron with empty lysimeters, right: Ecotron when closed for experiments.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The UNIL Ecotron “Terra” is a climate simulator that allows precise control of environmental conditions such as solar radiation and precipitation, as well as groundwater dynamics. It was manufactured by the german company Umwelt-Ger\u00e4te-Technik (UGT<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This system makes it possible to observe the soil\u2013plant\u2013atmosphere continuum under laboratory conditions, and investigate the transport of water and solutes in these conditions. Experiments can last from a few days to several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the Ecotron, a wide range of climatic and meteorological scenarios can be recreated: from dry to wet, from warm to cold, from a light breeze to a rain storm, from strong sunlight to high humidity, and from high to low groundwater levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Experimental setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UNIL Ecotron has a 3 m\u00b3 compartment in which three vegetated soil columns, called lysimeters, are installed. They are then exposed to programmed climatic variations in: light exposure, air temperature and humidity, rainfall, soil temperature, and groundwater regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lysimeters of the “Terra” Ecotron can accommodate up to 6 sensors (humidity, soil matric potential, pH, redox potential, water isotope probes, suction probes) at 8 different depths, enabling precise and continuous monitoring of the processes involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lysimeters can be filled with a single block of soil collected directly in the field, or with repacked sediments. In the example below, the lysimeters are filled starting with a gravel filter, followed by the soil in which the sensors are installed, and finally a grass cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The lysimeters can then be installed inside the Ecotron to start an experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vegetation development inside the Ecotron can be easily monitored using a time-lapse camera. The example below shows the evolution of a grass carpet over 40 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n