Research Infrastructure & Equipment
Welcome to the Research Infrastructure & Equipment page of the Professorship for Soil Biophysics and Environmental Systems at the Technical University of Munich. Our state-of-the-art laboratory is equipped with advanced instruments designed to support our interdisciplinary research in soil physics, plant science, and environmental systems. These tools enable us to conduct precise analyses and experiments, furthering our understanding of the complex interactions within soil ecosystems.
Our comprehensive suite of equipment allows us to explore various aspects of soil and plant interactions, from physical and hydraulic properties to chemical and biological analyses.
We invite you to explore the detailed descriptions of our laboratory equipment and experimental setups provided below. This overview highlights our capabilities and reflects our commitment to excellence in research and education.
- Pürckhauer Auger Set – Used for collecting undisturbed soil cores for physical, chemical, and biological analyses.
- Root Sampling Auger – Designed to extract root systems with minimal disturbance for root architecture studies
- Soil Texture Analysis
- Pario Soil Particle Size Analyzer (METER Group) – Determines particle size distribution, essential for soil classification and hydrological modeling.
- Vibratory Sieve Shaker AS 200 (Retsch) – Used for wet and dry sieving to classify soil particle sizes in sedimentology and soil physics studies.
- Soil Aggregate Stability Testing
- Wet Sieving Apparatus (Royal Eijkelkamp) – Evaluates soil aggregate stability, which is a key indicator of soil erosion risk and structural integrity.
- Soil Penetration Resistance Testing
- Penetrometer – Measures soil compaction levels, which influence root growth, water infiltration, and aeration.
- Soil Water Retention and Hydraulic Conductivity Curves
- HYPROP (METER Group) – Provides soil water retention curves to assess water availability for plants and hydraulic conductivity.
- Pressure Plate Apparatus (Soilmoisture Equipment Corp.) – Determines water holding capacity at different matric potentials, essential for irrigation management.
- Sand and Kaolinite Boxes (Soilmoisture Equipment Corp.) – Used to create controlled soil moisture conditions for studying plant-soil interactions.
- Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Testing
- KSAT (METER Group) – Measures saturated hydraulic conductivity, a key factor in water movement through soil.
- Water Permeability Apparatus (Royal Eijkelkamp) – Evaluates soil permeability, crucial for drainage and groundwater studies.
- Soil Infiltration Testing
- SATURO Automated Dual Head Infiltrometer (METER Group) – Measures infiltration rates under field conditions to assess soil permeability.
- Guelph Infiltrometer (Soilmoisture Equipment Corp.) – Used for estimating field-saturated hydraulic conductivity in various soil textures.
- Double Ring Infiltrometer – Simulates natural rainfall infiltration to assess runoff potential and erosion risks.
- Soil Water Potential Measurement
- WP4C Dew Point Potentiameter (METER Group) – Measures soil water potential to understand plant water availability and drought stress.
- Soil Matric Potential Sensors with Datalogger (e.g., TEROS 21, METER Group) – Used for continuous monitoring of soil moisture tension, which affects plant water uptake.
- Soil Water Content Measurement
- Mini Soil Moisture Sensors (UGT Soil Moisture Probe UMP-2) – Ideal for measuring water content in small experimental pots.
- Handheld Soil Moisture Sensors (TDR FieldScout 150) – Provides rapid field assessments of soil moisture for precision agriculture.
- Soil Moisture Sensors with Datalogger (e.g., TEROS 21, METER Group) – Enables spatiotemporal monitoring of moisture profiles for irrigation management and drought studies.
- Surface and Interface Properties
- Drop Shape Analyzer DSA25 (KRÜSS) – Measures soil contact angle, providing insights into soil wettability and hydrophobicity.
- Force Tensiometer – Tensiío (KRÜSS) – Assesses surface and interfacial tension, useful for soil wetting properties and capillary rise studies.
- Soil pH Measurement – Determines soil acidity or alkalinity, influencing nutrient availability and microbial activity.
- Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) Measurement – Provides information on soil salinity, critical for plant growth and irrigation management.
- Soil Carbon and Nutrient Concentration Analysis – Measures organic and inorganic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other key nutrients for soil fertility assessments.
- Multi-Sample Soil Respiration System (EGA60) – Monitors CO₂ and H₂O exchange, helping to assess soil microbial activity and carbon cycling.
- Plant Nutrient Concentration Analysis – Quantifies macro- and micronutrient levels in plant tissues for plant health and fertilization studies.
- Leaf Water Potential Measurement
- Scholander Pressure Chamber – Determines leaf water status and plant water stress responses.
- WP4C – Measures plant tissue water potential, relevant for drought tolerance research.
- Plant Hydraulic Conductance Measurement
- Scholander Pressure Chamber – Assesses whole-plant hydraulic conductance.
- High-Pressure Flow Meter – Evaluates axial hydraulic conductivity in plant stems.
- Root Hydraulic Conductivity Measurement (Root Pressure Probe) – Quantifies water transport efficiency in roots.
- Light Microscope Equipped with Digital Camera – Enables detailed analysis of plant root structures, leaf anatomy, and microbial interactions.
- Shaking Hot Water Bath (Model VLSB18) – Used for soil and plant sample processing under controlled temperature conditions.
- Rhizoboxes for Plant Root Observation (50 × 50 × 1 cm) – Allows non-destructive root system visualization for growth studies.
- Unrefrigerated Benchtop Centrifuge (Sigma 6-16S) – Facilitates sample separation for soil and plant analysis.
- Universal Drying Oven (Model UF750) – Used for drying soil and plant samples before analysis.
- Plant Growth Cabinet – Provides controlled temperature, humidity, and lighting for plant experiments.
- Walk-In Growth Chamber – Allows large-scale plant growth experiments under controlled conditions.
- Muffle Furnace – Used for high-temperature combustion of soil and plant tissues for carbon analysis.
- Autoclave Steam Sterilizer – Sterilizes lab equipment, soil, and media for microbiological studies.
- Ultrasonic Bath with Heating – Assists in soil particle dispersion and sample preparation.
- Digital Balances – Enables precise weight measurement with computer recording for high-accuracy experiments.