Hanna Instruments HI83900-60 Suction Lysimeter , For Root Level Soil Monitoring, 60cm

The suction lysimeter is built with a porous ceramic cap connected to a transparent tube for soil solution extraction. A rubber capillary is inserted in the tube passing through a rubber cap and reaching the ceramic tip. The lysimeter is an ideal tool for collecting soil solution samples and then perform quantitative chemical analysis. In this way the operator can easily monitor the level of nutrients, such as ammonia, nitrate, phosphorous and potassium, sulfate, calcium, magnesium. The ceramic tip of the lysimeter can be used in all types of soil, and it is made of a sinterized material that does not react with nutrient elements. The soil solution, therefore, is not affected by the chemical composition of the ceramic cap resulting in precise and reliable tests. The model allows the extraction of a solution from the soil by creating a vacuum (negative pressure or suction) inside the sampler tube, that exceeds the soil water tension. This will establish an hydraulic gradient for the solution to flow through the porous ceramic cap and into the lysimeter tube. Typically, a vacuum of about -60 cb (centibar) should be drawn. For better monitoring of soil solution composition throughout an entire growth period of crops, at least two lysimeters should be installed in the root zone of a representative plant, one at the upper and one in the lower part of the root zone. For better measurement accuracy and repeatability, it is recommended to replicate installations in at least two more locations. It is comprised of 60 cm (1.97') sampler tube ending with porous ceramic tip. Includes capillary rubber tube with rubber cap and finger clamp, cleaning solution stater kit (120mL), 30mL syringe and instructions.