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DIVISION S-7-FOREST & RANGE SOILS

Minirhizotron installation in sandy, rocky soils with minimal soil disturbance

^a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health & Environmental Effects Research Lab., 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333 USA
^b Dep. of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 USA
^c Newsom Industries, Newcastle, CA 95658 USA

don{at}mail.cor.epa.gov

We developed and demonstrated the utility of a technique for installing minirhizotron tubes in sandy, rocky soils where more traditional installation methods are inadequate. The method uses a pneumatic rock-drill alternately to drill and drive drill casing into the soil. Soil particles and drilling debris are removed from the casing as it is installed. The minirhizotron tube is inserted into the drill casing and the casing is withdrawn. A pneumatic screw-drive guide system powers the downward and upward movement of the rock-drill and controls the angle of installation. Working from a platform suspended from a center-pivot elevated catwalk minimized soil disturbance. Soil contact and root ingrowth around the minirhizotron tubes were very satisfactory. This method, while fairly labor intensive, allows minirhizotron studies of root dynamics in sandy, rocky soils where they would otherwise not be possible. Also, there is much less soil compaction and disturbance than traditional installation techniques entail.

Abbreviations: FACE, Free Air CO₂ Enrichment • PVC, polyvinylchloride

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