Greenhouse and Common Garden at Irchel

Our department's greenhouse is designed with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, incorporating features such as rainwater reuse for cleaning and the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting. It is equipped with six compartments whose condition can be independently controlled.  

Within this controlled environment, we conduct cultivation experiments that yield highly reproducible and reliable results. The greenhouse allows for precise management of critical environmental factors, including temperature and humidity. Furthermore, the greenhouse is equipped to effectively manage pest and disease outbreaks, ensuring that external factors do not compromise experimental outcomes. This capability is essential for maintaining the integrity and validity of our research.

Over the years, our greenhouse has played a pivotal role in the cultivation of numerous plant species, contributing significantly to a wide array of research initiatives in biology. It supports large-scale experiments year-round allowing us to undertake long-term studies and comparative analyses.

In addition to serving our department, the greenhouse is open to utilization by other departments within the university, as well as external research institutions. This collaborative approach fosters interdisciplinary research and innovation in plant and ecological sciences.

Our department’s experimental garden is a crucial resource that bridges the knowledge gap between the in vitro experiments conducted in labs and the actual ecosystems in natural environments. This facility allows researchers to explore a wide range of ecological as well as agricultural questions in a controlled yet realistic setting, making it an invaluable tool for advancing scientific knowledge.

Over the years, our research groups have achieved numerous significant outcomes through experiments conducted in this garden. The ability to implement long-term cultivation studies - often lasting several years - within the campus offers a unique advantage, enabling us to monitor and analyze plant growth, soil health, and environmental interactions over extended periods. This capability enhances the robustness of our findings and facilitates deeper insights into complex ecological processes.

Moreover, the experimental field is not only a hub for our department but is also frequently utilized by researchers from external institutions and universities, including ETH Zurich. This collaborative use underscores the field's importance as a shared resource in the scientific community, fostering innovation and encouraging interdisciplinary research. As we continue to explore the potentials of this facility, we remain committed to basic and advanced science and contributing to sustainable practices through our ongoing studies.