Modificações mecânicas do amostrador de colunas de solo e utilização do poliuretano expansível para acondicionamento da amostra

Abstract

The collection of soil samples maintaining its physicochemical structure preserved are fundamental for experiments under controlled or natural conditions, which is a constant challenge for researchers. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the mechanical collector of soil columns for samples up to 60 cm depth, as well as the development of techniques for columns removal with the use of expandable polyurethane. The equipment development and the evaluations were carried out at the Federal University of Mato Grosso, Rondonópolis Campus, at the Institute of Agrarian Sciences and Technological. Performance tests and soil column collections were conducted in experimental areas of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Course, and the variables obtained were submitted to statistical tests. With the mechanical changes performed on equipment, undisturbed samples of soils with a depth of up to 60 cm and diameters ranging from 25 to 60 cm were collected, indicating satisfactory performance with reduced collection time and labor. The use of expandable polyurethane has proved to be an excellent product, both to be used as a tool for removal of soil columns, as well as to eliminate the preferential paths between the soil columns and the internal walls of the vases, with lower cost than other methods, such as plastic vases or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) vases.