The activities of Department of Metrology and Modelling of Agrophysical Processes are focused on the study and modelling of mass and energy transfer in the soil-plant-atmosphere system, determination of the relations between the parameters of the solid phase of porous granular media and their mass and energy transfer coefficients and mechanical parameters, as well as the development of methods for the description of physical properties of colloidal-capillary-porous bodies. The area of research interest covers also the thermodynamic description and interpretation of the processes occurring in the soil-plant-atmosphere system and in capillary-porous bodies and the development of new measurement methods and apparatuses, systems of monitoring and methods for the analysis and interpretation of results including the time-space variability of various parameters. The numerical and cartographic databases on parameters of the environment of plant growth and development are created for the use in comprehensive simulation and forecast models of the optimization and utilization of water resources, which allows to increase crop yields in various soil-climatic conditions.
Four laboratories equipped with modern scientific equipment were created within the Department. The Laboratory of Dielectric Spectroscopy studies moisture and salinity of materials using TDR (time domain reflectometry) and FDR (frequency domain reflectometry) methods and develops prototype sensors (ion-selective, redox potential, moisture, oxidation, etc.) for measuring physical and chemical properties of soils and plants. The Laboratory of Natural Environment Monitoring performs measurements of the hydrophysical and thermal properties of soils, such as: water retention curves with hysteresis effect, water and thermal conductivity coefficients and thermal capacity, to describe the mass and energy transport processes in the soil-plant-atmosphere system.
The Laboratory of Thermography uses NDT methods (Non-Destructive Testing) – thermal imaging and imaging spectroscopy (in UV, visible light and near IR ranges) to determine absorption, dispersion and emission properties of examined objects (soil, plant materials, food products). The Laboratory of Evaluation, Treatment and Utilization of Post Fermentation Sludge has equipment for determining the water and thermal characteristics of porous media, particularly soil. It is also equipped with X-ray microtomograph, which is used to study the soil structure. Measurements performed in the laboratories are used in the modelling of the physical processes and phenomena occurring in the environment and the studied objects.
