An automated vacuum extraction control system for soil water percolation samplers

Un Sistema de Control de Extracción con Vacío Automatizado para muestreadotes de Precolación del Agua del Suelo

Lentz, R.D. and Kincaid, D.C. (2003) An automated vacuum extraction control system for soil water percolation samplers. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 67:100-106.

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Abstract

A vacuum applied to soil water percolation samplers permits collection
of both macro- and matrix-pore liquids. Performance of these
field samplers is improved when the extraction vacuum is adjusted in
accordance with the tension in the surrounding soil. This is particularly
important when monitoring a network of spatially distributed samplers
and for samplers installed in medium to fine textured soils. We designed
a vacuum extraction system to more efficiently collect vadose-zone
soil solution samples. A single vacuum pump, vacuum tank, and
air dryer provided a vacuum supply for 12 soil water sampling sites
via a branching polyethylene pipe network. A vacuum controller containing
two inexpensive pressure transducers, a voltage regulator,
relay, and solenoid valve was developed and tested for field installation.
Data loggers operated the controllers, monitored extraction vacuum
and ambient soil water potential, and adjusted relative vacuum
at each percolation sampling site. The automated vacuum controllers
successfully maintained sampler extraction pressures at levels proportional
to ambient soil water potential and provided the added benefit
of recording the pressure values for use in subsequent data interpretation.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1089
Subjects:	Percolation > Percolation sampler Research methodology Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:50
Last Modified:	09 Nov 2016 18:03
Item ID:	147
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/147