チャンバーで土からのガス排出を測定する実験は、温暖化ガスに関する研究によく用いられています。私はそれと同時に、土壌中の物質分解や、微生物の活性を知りたいときにこのような方法を用いています。手作りのチャンバーですが、それなりにしっかり測れている、という結果が出ました。

   Another new fiscal year has started. I have been a bit busy and it has been more than a month from the last update. My team has not been changed and this year, we aim to do more and more field works. Our limitation is manpower (we only have 7 people in total) but I guess we do our best for farmers. Snow has melt and I see my students have already started some preliminary experiments. 

   Chamber measurements of the gas emitted from soils are often used to measure greenhouse gas emissions but I also want to link the gas emissions to organic matter decomposition and microbial activities. It is a hand-made chamber but it works well, according to our preliminary data.