Controlled environment studies are an essential tool to assess the responses of plants to environmental stresses or changes in our climate. Across Burnley, Creswick and Dookie campuses we have a range of glasshouse facilities for controlled environment studies.
Facilities at Burnley
- Three one chamber nursery glasshouses, limited temperature control
- Four shadehouses
- Nursery complex with commercial nursery equipment
- Open area for irrigated outdoor experiments
Facilities at Creswick
- PC2 glasshouse for pathogen work or genetically manipulated organisms. This glasshouse has three individual chambers where temperature, humidity and CO2 concentration can be controlled
- Temperature controlled one chamber nursery glasshouse
- Growth cabinets and various incubator cabinets
Facilities at Dookie
- 220 hectares of canola and 430 hectares of wheat and 5000 merinos pastured on 1200 hectares of clover, lucerne and phalaris
- A carbon flux tower to measure greenhouse gas emissions related to pastures and crops
- A seed bank of native species
- Automation technology to optimise horticulture and viticulture irrigation using water measurement techniques such as crop evapotranspiration, crop water stress index, and soil moisture depletion.