Principle:

The lateral transport processes measuring lysimeter enables to determine parameters of water and solute balances of fen soils with high temporal and spatial resolution and it’s used to investigate the effects of fen soil rewetting on the mobilization of phosphorus in the soil and on the surface water quality. The groundwater level in the lateral transport processes measuring lysimeter is user-defined adjustable between 0.05 and 1.45 m below surface. Different measuring systems are horizontally inserted in the lysimeter (suction probes, redox probes, tensiometers and soil air probes).The measurement of selected soil-physical and soil-chemical parameters yielded in plausible results. 

The load cells are operated by a weighing monitor, which is connected with the data logger. This instrumentation makes it possible to determinate the mass of the about 8,000 kg fen lysimeter (soil monolith, water, lysimeter container and framework) with an accuracy of ± 100 g.  The hollow chambers arranged edgewise are equipped with an electronic water level sensor for independent water level measurement. Furthermore, the lysimeter is equipped with an active adjustment system to control the target groundwater level. 

Principal purposes: 

• The technical realization of this lysimeter type makes it possible to carry out scenario investigations by systematic variations of the inside water levels in the in- and outlet-range and to simultaneously measure the corresponding parameters of the lateral water and solute flux. 
• A combination of the investigations at the lysimeter with in situ measurements is realized and well suited for the validation and calibration of mathematical simulation models.