Description

The Armfield FEL6 lysimeter consists of three 300mm diameter containers in which a variety of crop types can be grown in any soil type. Each container can then in turn be placed on a hydraulically mounted plate, which is used to monitor system weight changes arising from evapotranspiration, precipitation and drainage. Despite its simplicity, the apparatus has a high degree of sensitivity and may be used for student project work as well as for demonstration purposes.

Experimental Content

• Study of the evapotranspiration measurement by use of a lysimeter

• Study of a lysimeter operation

• Determine lysimeter sensitivity to gains and losses in weight at different manometer angles and to relate this to gains or losses in water

• Demonstrate the components of the soil-plant-water system using the lysimeter

• Measuring the variations of water loss or gain from the soil and plant due to evapotranspiration, precipitation and drainage processes

• Demonstrate the principles of relationships between reference crop evapotranspiration, maximum and actual evapotranspiration

• Determination of the plants water usage

• Determine changes in diurnal evapotranspiration as measured by the lysimeter