Applied Biological Chemistry
- Volume 41 Issue 8
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- Pages.583-586
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- 1998
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- 2468-0834(pISSN)
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- 2468-0842(eISSN)
Technique for Soil Solution Sampling Using Porous Ceramic Cups
Abstract
Porous ceramic cups are used for monitoring ion concentration in soil solutions in various time course and depth. A soil solution sampler was constructed in laboratory by inserting pliable perfluoroalkoxy(PFA) tubings into porous cup through holes in PVC rod segment which plugged top opening of the porous cup. The system was installed in drip irrigated soil in a vertical position, and nitrogen movement below the drip basin was monitored. To collect soil solution, vacuum in the cup was applied with a hand vacuum pump. The samples obtained were sufficient enough to run quantitative analyses for a number of chemicals. Nitrogen transformation and movement could be well defined, and the system seemed to be relevant to the other soil solution samplers in monitoring chemical movement in soil. Although this system has general deficiencies found in the other samplers using ceramic cup, it could be easily constructed at a low cost. Since the tubing was pliable, the cups could be installed in horizontal position, and this allows installations of the cups at more precise depth increments and also more precise samplings of soil solution at each depth.