On April 6, 2017, Dr. Sarah Garre, the associate professor from the University of Liege (ULg) of Belgium, presented an academic report on the potential of non-invasive electrical techniques for agricultural experiment at CAAS graduate school, marking the kick-off of 2017 International Scholar Lecture, which was formally initiated five years ago in 2013. Around 80 PhD students, including both Chinese students and international students, attended the session.

During the presentation, Dr. Garre interpreted methods to characterize fluxes in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum and analyzed their features and shortcomings.

She stressed the basic theories of two kinds of non-invasive electrical techniques-Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Electromagnetic induction (EMI), also explained how to use them in the studies of soil moisture dynamic.

In conclusion, Dr. Garre introduced the application of non-invasive electrical techniques in the research of soil science through four case studies: soil mapping, competition in mixed cropping system, influences of tree on the soil resistivity of farmland, and soil moisture dynamic under plastic mulching.

In this session, Dr. Garre made a one hour report, followed by a 20 minutes face to face discussion, allowing for the students to share their opinions and ask questions, and inspiring students a new insight into soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, especially in the soil water content measurement technology. Students spoke highly of Dr. Garre’s speech and asked her many related questions in their studies.    

Thanks to the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP), for their great work in co-organizing this event.