This module represents two approaches to field simulation; (1) a semi-static facility, the Cropatron, with a high degree of environmental control, containment and high resolution monitoring and (2) a mobile facility: the Field Mobile Cropatron which can be placed over part of a crop in the field to control the growth environment, or for a short term, the measurement environment. In both cases a double membrane, inflatable transparent dome is placed over approximately 10m² of crop under natural illumination. In the static systems, the plastic dome can be moved on a gantry to enclose a plot for a short period or the entire lifecycle. Gas flow to and from the chambers and data cabling communicates through the gantry and services rail to the analysis laboratory containing infrared gas analysis (IRGA) and IT infrastructure for data capture. This also allows flexible expansion of the facility. The Field Cropatrons will be mounted on a small cherry picker which can be towed with a 4WD vehicle. We envisage demand can be accommodated with 10 static Cropatrons, which include two Pathatrons (pathogen containment suitable for disease challenge and monitoring experiments) and five mobile units. A variety of levels of environmental control and monitoring can be provided, detailed below:

• Defined soil volume, controlled irrigation and soil water potential
• Plant canopy can be left open or enclosed for short periods
• Plant canopy can be enclosed for monitoring of canopy temperature, spectral imaging, non-invasive biomass determination, gas exchange and carbon isotope ratio.

•  As above but canopy can be enclosed for the duration of growth and crop gas exchange etc measured at controlled CO₂ concentrations, temperature, humidity and photoperiod (by addition of a blackout dome and supplementary lighting if required).

• As above but the root volume is accessible to imaging tubes to determine root growth and architecture.
• A lysimeter is a facility where the soil mass is contained and placed on load cells for very accurate measurement of plant evapotranspiration and hence crop water use.
• The lysimeter, when enclosed, could offer GM containment.

• High level Cropatron with pathogen containment of air circulation suitable for disease challenge and monitoring experiments. Pathogen containment could be added to existing Cropatrons as users require.

	Cropatron with movable domes, imaging and IRGA capability
	Cropatron with and without lysimeter and root ports
	Field Mobile Cropatron with imaging and IRGA capability