The Plant Chemistry Laboratory was part of the Grasslands Division of the DSIR. The Plant Research Station was established by the DSIR and Department of Agriculture in 1928 but tensions between the two departments led to a reorganisation in 1936, and the Plant Research Station was transferred entirely to the DSIR. The DSIR became a scientific research department, doing its own research rather than simply coordinating work in other institutions. Five separate research divisions were created, of which one was Grasslands in Palmerston North.