The plant and soil ecosystem ecology laboratory at Lancaster Environment Centre is managed by Annette Ryan and used by many students and researchers, both from Lancaster University and other institutes.

Analytical capabilities include:

• soil and vegetation carbon, nitrogen and phosphate
• phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and enzyme assays
• raw fibre analysis
• plant and soil respiration
• greenhouse gas analysis
• soil density fractionation

The group also has access to climate-controlled growth cabinets, glasshouses, and a large outdoor space for mesocosm experiments locally at Hazelrigg field station.