What are the benefits of adaptable plant growth chambers?

The field of agriculture and plant science research is constantly evolving to enhance our understanding of plants and address global issues such as climate change and food sustainability. Adaptable plant growth chambers are key in enabling universities, research institutes, and ag-biotech companies to keep up with these changes and conduct relevant, impactful research on an ongoing basis.

By definition, adaptable plant growth chambers are chambers and growth rooms that can be modified and customized by users to meet diverse research needs, allowing scientists to adjust environmental conditions such as airflow, lighting, and number of tiers to support a wide range of plant science applications. This adaptability in the field ensures that their research remains responsive to current research requirements, trends, and market demands.

Limitations of traditional plant growth chambers
Traditionally, plant growth chambers were purpose-built for specific research applications. Whether designed for a particular type of plant or environmental condition, chambers were often custom-made to meet the exact requirements of the research being conducted.

This meant that once the research focus shifted or the initial project was completed, the chambers, while still very usable, might no longer be ideally suited for their original purpose. Modifying or repurposing these chambers was difficult, time-consuming, and costly.

Over time, the industry has evolved, and the need for more flexible research solutions has motivated manufacturers to develop adaptable plant growth chamber models that can meet a variety of research applications.

Some newer models incorporate design elements that allow for greater flexibility, such as interchangeable application kits and configurable internal components. Application kits may be specific to tall plants, short plants, incubation, or tissue culture. Internal components may include items such as lighting canopies or rear wall airflow plenums. Despite these advancements, many older or more specialized chambers remain fixed in their original purpose. While still able to accommodate a wide range of environmental conditions, adaptable plant growth chambers and rooms offer some advantages that provide extra utility.

Some newer plant growth chambers allow for greater flexibility, such as interchangeable application kits, enabling researchers to change from tall plant, to short plant, tissue culture and other applications. Application "kits" can be purchased in advance and consist of different shelving, airflow and lighting options, which is a cost effective and quick way to re-purpose your plant growth chamber.

What are the benefits of plant growth chambers?
For research facilities, the ability to adapt a plant growth chamber or room to different applications offers several significant advantages. The most compelling is that it provides some degree of "future-proofing" for your facility. Investing in equipment that can evolve with changing research needs reduces the need for frequent capital expenditures on new chambers.

Adaptable chambers also allow researchers to stretch their research budgets further. In an era where research funding can be challenging to secure – the ability to modify and re-purpose existing equipment for new projects without purchasing new chambers is a valuable cost-saving measure.

Finally, adaptable chambers give researchers greater flexibility in their work. As research priorities change or new funding opportunities arise, adaptable plant growth chambers can be reconfigured to meet the new demands. This ensures the equipment remains relevant and useful over a longer period and that researchers can always pursue new opportunities, ultimately maximizing their ROI.

A chamber like the one pictured above is configured as a single-tier high light growth chamber with a counterbalanced light canopy and upward airflow. A simple conversion alters the chamber's configuration to either a double or triple tier configuration with medium light intensity and horizontal airflow. The unique flexibility makes it ideal for use in facilities with multiple research programs.

Ways to adapt plant growth chambers
Changing the airflow direction.

The direction of airflow within a chamber can significantly impact the growing conditions for different types of plants. For example, horizontal airflow is typically used for short plants grown in flats, ensuring even distribution of air across the plant canopy.

Conversely, vertical airflow may be used for taller plants grown in pots or tissue culture petri dishes, directing air upward from the base to the top of the plant. By changing the airflow direction, the same chamber can be optimized for research with plants of any height.

Changing the lighting canopy.

Lighting is another critical variable that can be adjusted in an adaptable chamber. Chambers can be equipped with different lighting canopies to vary the intensity and spectrum of light, depending on the research requirements.

For instance, a chamber might use medium-intensity lighting for short plants but require higher-intensity lighting for tall plants or incubation studies. The ability to change the lighting canopy enables researchers to tailor the chamber's environment to specific experimental needs.

Changing the number of tiers.

The number of tiers within a chamber can be adjusted to accommodate different types of plants or research setups. A chamber configured for short plants or tissue culture might have multiple tiers to maximize space and increase the number of plants or petri dishes that can be grown simultaneously.

However, if the research focus shifts to medium or tall plants, reducing tiers or reconfiguring the existing setup can create the necessary space.

Can users adapt chambers themselves?
One of the key benefits of adaptable plant growth chambers is that configuration changes can be made by the users themselves without needing extensive technical expertise or external support. In simple cases, such as changing the number of tiers or adjusting airflow direction, the modifications can be completed in less than an hour. This ease of adaptation is crucial for research facilities, as it minimizes downtime and allows researchers to quickly pivot to new projects. It also reduces the need for costly service calls or specialized training, making adaptable chambers a practical and efficient solution for dynamic research environments.

Are there other ways chambers can be adapted?
Plant growth chambers can also be adapted by adding optional features that, while not user-changeable in the field, can be ordered from the manufacturer in advance. For example if there is a possibility that your chamber will be used for entomology research in the future, researchers may opt for phenolic-coated refrigeration coils during the initial purchase to protect against the corrosive effects of insect secretions that can damage standard coils over time.

Complex or highly customized requests related to adaptable plant growth chambers are best completed through the manufacturer as they can ensure the chambers chosen and their features align with the facility's needs both now and in the future.

By planning in this way for potential future uses, research facilities can lower the total cost of ownership of their chambers over its lifespan. It is much more cost-effective to include specific options during the manufacturing process than to retrofit later. Further, this kind of proactive approach enables facilities to maximize the lifespan and utility of their chambers from the start.

The advantages of manufacturer support
When selecting a plant growth chamber, it is important to consider the manufacturer's ability to support retrofits as the equipment ages. Some manufacturers maintain detailed drawings and records for years, even for discontinued models. A manufacturer's commitment to offering long-term support ensures that chambers can be retrofitted effectively, extending their useful life for 20 or more years.

Manufacturers that do not offer this level of support may leave research facilities with limited options when it comes to upgrading or modifying chambers. When purchasing a plant growth chamber, it is important to choose a manufacturer known for maintaining comprehensive technical drawings and serial number database so as to provide ongoing support over the lifetime of your equipment.

Conclusion
Adaptable plant growth chambers offer valuable benefits for research facilities, from maximizing ROI on research dollars to providing the flexibility needed to meet changing research demands. By investing in chambers that can be adapted in the field, facilities can maximize the utility of their plant growth chambers and ensure they remain relevant, effective, and useful for the long-term.