Rhizobox Irrigation systems
Passive Irrigators for Rhizoboxes and Rhizonboxes
RRP Rhizon Irrigators (by Rhizophere Research Products) are the perfect match to VSI Rhizoboxes / RhizonBoxes by allowing reseachers to apply water, nutrients or contaminants (e.g. saline solutions, etc.) where and when it matters! Placing Irrigators at different depths allows you to either achieve the most uniform water supply throughout your box, or to more realistically mimic droughts and the inherent loss of soil moisture from top to bottom, e.g. by gradually shifting the water supply to Rhizon Irrigators placed deeper in your rhizoboxes. In addition to irrigation, experiments can be conducted with fertilizers or polluted solutions to simulate the accumulation of excess salt concentrations that often occur with suboptimal irrigation.
Passive irrigation can be achieved by placing storage containers (of water or other solutions) at the same height as the boxes. By changing the height difference between the storage container and the experimental rhizobox, you can influence suction. For example, if the male luer of the RhizonIrrigator is connected to a water container and the water level is below the level of the RhizonIrrigator in the pot/rhizobox, this means there is suction - allowing a variety of soil water conditions to be implemented. Since soil characteristics and plant water uptake vary widely, a pre-test is recommended to determine specific soil moisture levels. Consider RhizonIrrigators for your next Rhizobox / RhizonBox experiment!
Get in contact and/or select RhizonIrrigators as accessories in the Rhizobox Config Form.
RhIzon Irrigators - SPECIFICATIONS
All Rhizon Irrigators (RRP # 19.21.71) have a porous part (15 cm) with a diameter of 2.5 mm. At one end of the porous part there is a 100 cm tube with male luer lock and at the other end is a 60 cm tube with a female luer lock and stopcock. The porous section is reinforced with nylon wire. Store in a dry, normally ventilated place away from sources of heat, ignition and direct sunlight. Store between 0 and 50°C - the membrane modules should not be exposed to freezing. All Rhizon Irrigators are sold in sets of 10. Continue reading on the properties of the micro-membrane.
RhizonIrrigators - Installation
- During soil filling, place the porous part of the Rhizon Irrigator in the Rhizobox / Rhizonbox at selected position.
- Run the tubes to the soil surface on each side of the box (inside). Note: RhizonIrrigators cannot be exited through the 4.5mm holes for Rhizon Samplers (ask for larger diameter holes in Rhiyonboxes if needed).
- Make sure to achieve good contact between soil and the porous part of the Rhizon Irrigator
- Connect the male luer lock to a reservoir with water / nutrient solution / etc.
- Connect a (relaxed) syringe to the stopcock (at the female luer lock), open the stopcock and pull the plunger of the syringe
- Close the stopcock when water / solution enters the syringe. Make sure there are no air bubbles left in the tubing of the Rhizon Irrigator!
- Remove the syringe
- Adjust the reservoirs' water level at approx. the same height as the porous part (of the Rhizon Irrigator) for passive irrigation - solution will flow into the soil as it get dry. Change the height of the reservoir (or its water level) to modify the rate of soil rewetting
- IMPORTANT! The top end (blue female luer + stopcock) of the Rhizon Irrigator must be flushed periodically (steps 5 to 7) to remove air bubbles - which occur due to the subatmospheric pressure in the system. The air bubbles are easily seen in the "highest" part of the tubing!