University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU)
Tulln an der Donau | Website
Short Description
Rainout shelters (ROS) are typically fixed-location structures that can intercept the majority of natural precipitation, providing an effective tool for investigating the effects of varying precipitation levels on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The fully automated rainout shelter at BOKU, Tulln is well-suited for creating drought conditions within the sheltered (test field) area by minimizing artifacts, ensuring predictable rain exclusion, and proving feasible for experimental studies in agricultural field settings. It allows researchers to study how different crop varieties respond to water scarcity and develop new crop varieties that can tolerate water stress. ROS results are more likely to be reproducible in real-world field conditions.
Contact Person
KENNY PAUL
Research Services
Plant breeding trials, Plant trait testing, Climate-fit, Grain yield
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The ROS test field area at BOKU, Tulln measures 11m x 34m, allowing for the cultivation of approximately 50 plots of typical size. An open control field of similar size is located parallel to the test field.