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Nutrient Management & Soil & Plant Analysis-Note

A Soil Probe Pulling Device Facilitates Soil Sampling

IITA, c/o Lambourn, Carolyn House, Croydon CR9 3EE, UK

^* Corresponding author (j.wendt{at}cgiar.org)

Soil probes are hammered into the soil to sample uniform, undisturbed soil cores, and can also be used to dig uniform holes for permanent installation of devices to monitor soil moisture and soil solution composition. Extracting soil probes becomes increasingly difficult at increasing depths, particularly when the soil is dry, frozen, or has a cohesive consistency. The construction and operation of a device for extracting soil probes is described. The device can be constructed from inexpensive and universally available galvanized pipe and pipe joints, and a 25 mm width x 2 m length nylon strap. The device can be used to extract other soil sampling equipment that requires upward vertical force. A single person can generate over 1000 kg of upward force on the probe without excessive effort. Use of the probe does not strain the back, which is an important consideration as back injuries are a serious concern with manual soil probe extraction.

Abbreviations: NPT, National Pipe Thread • OD, outer diameter