I am trying to take sequential soil samples of my 3L greenhouse pots over the course of my plant's lives. I was using a 2 cm diameter soil corer for the pilot study, but it created too large of holes in my pots. I have thus-far been unable to find a tool for extracting soil cores from my pots with a smaller diameter than 2 cm. Does anyone have any suggestions on a tool I could use to remedy this issue? The soil samples are for DNA analysis and nutrient content analysis.
Thank you!
Hey Shawnee! One thing that comes to mind is a narrow canoli tube. I think they're something like 5/8" in diameter and just under 4" long (1.6 x 10 cm). https://www.countrykitchensa.com/shop/essentials/mini-cannoli-forms/40/607/855/647270/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYL3BRDVARIsAF9E4GcEm6eZVQ_iD_hPqgdxvRNkcibUI5AnRItXtLZ_FgdIr7Jd1-LeMi4aAncaEALw_wcB
I hope this helps!
You could try "old school" cork borers. They were common when chemistry folks had to build their own glassware with stoppers & tubing & similar.
https://www.ctechglass.com/ctech-7-piece-steel-cork-borer-set-sizes-from-3-to-16mm-lab-supplies-p-197.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhP30u9H36QIV0cDACh1zZQy9EAQYBCABEgLcAPD_BwE
I used to use them to cut uniform cylinders of potatoes & beets for an osmosis lab.
Hey Shawnee. We have had success sampling different environmental samples using a syringe with the tip cut off (i.e., use a razor and cut the syringe so only the barrel is left). If you leave the plunger in the syringe (pulled back a bit), it will create a vacuum so that the sample does not fall out. You can then push it out with the plunger. These are also initially sterile and come in many different sizes/diameters.
Hi Shawnee
I use 10 or 20 ml plastic syringes
I cut the end (around the 0ml) and so I can quantify the volume of soil to sample and reduce disturbances. syringes are between 0.8 and 1 cm in diameter
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