Collection of Undisturbed Soil Cores from NO-till Fields with Different Gypsum Application RATES in Eaton, Ohio.

Undisturbed soil columns also known as lysimeters have been used frequently to study soil properties and soil-water processes in both field and laboratory conditions. Lysimeters have been consider valuable tools to predict existing and future land use modifications including solute and water balance. Sampling undisturbed soil columns from agricultural lands represents a major challenge. The purpose of this project was to collect 24 soil columns (30.5 cm diameter and 80 cm depth) by using a free-standing, portable, hydraulically powered device designed by Hutton et al. 1990, to insert hollow sample cylinders into the soil profile and subsequent collection of soil monolith samples for controlled greenhouse experimenation. The average insertion rate of the soil columns into soils of two different drainage classes (Celina- well drained and Brookston-poorly drained) and in three gypsum application rates (control, short term application (3 years) and long term application (12 years) in non-tillage farms was compared.