Optimizing agriculture and plant science with portable FTIR gas analysis
Real‑time measurement tools are improving soil health, crop research, and plant‑environment studies across China. As agriculture faces increasing pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity, real‑time field gas analysis has become an essential tool for researchers. The GT5000 Terra FTIR gas analyzer is helping Chinese institutions study how plants, soils, and environmental conditions interact, providing insights that support sustainable farming and improved crop management. Three case studies illustrate this growing trend.
Biogenic volatile emission studies at Sichuan University
The College of Life Sciences at Sichuan University has incorporated the GT5000 Terra gas analyzer into research on biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), important natural emissions influenced by environmental stress. By comparing GT5000 Terra in‑situ measurements with Agilent gas chromatography, researchers evaluate how environmental changes such as elevated CO₂, drought, higher temperatures, and ozone exposure modify volatile emissions from plants. Biological stressors, such as insect activity or microbial presence, are also part of the study. These datapoints support modeling efforts at both regional and global scales, helping scientists understand how volatile emissions influence and respond to climate change.
Tea plantation soil research at the Tea Research Institute
The Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has installed a GT5000 Terra system for real‑time monitoring of soil greenhouse gases, including N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂, in tea cultivation areas. By combining gas measurements with key soil parameters (temperature, moisture), researchers can analyze soil respiration dynamics and evaluate how tea varieties and management techniques influence emissions.
This research is critical for:
- improving soil health,
- optimizing fertilization and irrigation practices,
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
- and supporting sustainable tea production on a national scale.
Farmland emission monitoring in inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia Agricultural University uses the portable GT5000 Terra greenhouse gas flux system to study emissions from northern China’s farmland ecosystems. These regions face unique challenges such as cold temperatures, variable precipitation, and large seasonal differences.
The portability of the GT5000 Terra enables researchers to conduct on‑site measurements across wide agricultural areas. This supports long‑term monitoring of soil carbon and nitrogen processes, providing valuable data to improve farming practices and to understand how croplands contribute to overall greenhouse gas budgets.
Driving sustainable agriculture through better data
Across plant science and agriculture, real‑time gas analysis enables more detailed, accurate, and environmentally meaningful research. Whether studying volatile emissions, soil respiration, or farmland greenhouse gas fluxes, the GT5000 Terra provides a consistent and reliable platform for field‑based measurement. These advancements help scientists design smarter cultivation methods, improve soil management strategies, and develop climate‑resilient agricultural systems, supporting China’s broader goals of sustainable and low‑carbon development.
Gasmet gas analyzers, including the GT5000 Terra used in these research programs, are distributed in China by Beijing Eco-mind Technology Co. Ltd in close partnership with Gasmet. Through this collaboration, Chinese agricultural and environmental researchers gain access to cutting-edge portable gas analysis technology along with local technical expertise and support.
GT5000 Terra – Our solution for climate smart agricultureGT5000 Terra addresses specific challenges faced in agricultural research. By eliminating the need for vial preparation and manual sampling, our technology resolves issues related to data consistency and error sources. It can measure all gases of your interest simultaneously, saving you time and money. Equipped with wireless communication, you can get your measurement results in real-time on your laptop or tablet. Portability makes it especially effective in field conditions. |
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