Lysimeters Without Edge Flow: An Improved Design and Sampling Procedure

Abstract

A description is given of a modified lysimeter design and sampling procedure designed to prevent edge flow from occuring in large soil monolith lysimeters. An internal cutting ring at the base of the lysimeter casing produced a small annular gap between the soil monolith and the wall of the casing. This gap was filled with liquefied petrolatum, which provided a water-tight seal around the edge of the lysimeter. Water and solutes were unable to leak between the monolith and casing. The use of petrolatum as a sealant is suitable for waterflux and nutrient-leaching studies, but is not suitable for pesticide studies.

Influence of water table level and soil properties on emissions of greenhouse gases from cultivated peat soil

“…In lysimeter studies, shrinkage of peat soils on drying can create problems such as gas and water flux from the sides of the soil column. To overcome this problem, Cameron et al (1990Cameron et al ( , 1992 constructed a special lysimeter where liquefied petroleum was injected into the gap between the lysimeter wall and the soil. In the present study, we constructed a system with an inner wall of 0.5 mm neoprene rubber sheet that was flexible, giving the peat core the opportunity to both shrink and swell.…”

Effects of past and current crop management on soil microbial biomass and activity

“…The lysimeters were installed in the Lincoln University lysimeter laboratory according to the protocol established (Cameron et al, 1992), and for the following three years, four lysimeters from each site were managed under the original production system, while the other four were managed under the alternative management system, resulting in four treatments distinguished by farming history and current management practice (Fig. 1).…”

A lysimeter study of the fate of15N‐labelled nitrogen in cow urine with or without farm dairy effluent in a grazed dairy pasture soil under flood irrigation

“…and 70 cm deep, were collected following wellestablished protocols and procedures (Cameron et al 1992). In brief, this involved placing a metal cylinder casing on the soil surface, digging around the casing, making sure to minimise disturbance to the soil structure inside, and gradually pushing the casing down by small increments.…”

“…The lysimeters were transported to a lysimeter facility at Lincoln University, using a specially designed trailer with air-bag suspension to minimise disturbance to the soil monolith. The gap between the soil monolith and the metal casing was sealed using petroleum jelly to stop edge-flow effects (Cameron et al 1992). The lysimeters were then installed in the field lysimeter facility with the surface of the lysimeters at the same level as that of the surrounding soil surface to maintain normal plant growing conditions.…”