With the unique extraction technology for mineral soils developed by UGT, soil columns can be extracted with high precision and undisturbed soil structure without using heavy technology. Our piercing device ensures perpendicular guidance of the lysimeter vessel to the extraction depth of the soil monolith.
The contour of the soil monolith is pre-cut with the help of a milling device, which is guided concentrically around the lysimeter vessel. The final contour of the soil monolith to be extracted is formed by the rotary cutter attached to the front of the lysimeter vessel. As a result, the lysimeter vessel takes up the soil column true to shape as it is lowered. Due to the reduction of the skin friction as a result of the preceding milling process, only low axial forces are required for this. The soil monolith is not deformed during extraction and retains its natural structure. Lysimeters extracted with the aid of the patented extraction technique were tested for quality by means of X-ray and computer tomography studies. The results have shown that the soil monoliths extracted using this technique do not have any cracks or structural changes.
With our sampling technique, small and large lysimeters with diameters between 300 and 1596 mm (2 m²) and depths between 300 and 2500 mm can be sampled. The provision of the equipment and the removal of the soil monoliths is carried out by our trained UGT personnel.