Lysimeter Systems
Precision plant-water research from 10-liter experiments to 25-ton systems
CrystalVision designs and builds complete lysimeter systems for agricultural and environmental research.
A lysimeter is a research system in which a plant grows in a soil container mounted on a precision weighing platform. By continuously measuring changes in weight together with irrigation and drainage, researchers can study plant water consumption, evapotranspiration and the interaction between the plant, soil and atmosphere.
Complete measurement, control and data - built around your experiment.
Talk to us about your research project!
What It Is & What It Does
CrystalVision lysimeter systems combine the main elements required for controlled plant-water research:
Precision weighing
Automated irrigation and fertigation
Drainage collection and measurement
Soil and environmental sensors
Data acquisition and control
Real-time and remote monitoring
Together, these measurements provide a detailed picture of the plant’s water balance and its response to different irrigation, fertilization and environmental conditions.
Additional research sensors can be integrated according to the specific experiment.
Scale & Flexibility
CrystalVision has developed lysimeters ranging from small 10-liter research units to systems with loads of up to 25 tons.
A research facility can include virtually any number of individual lysimeters according to the experimental design. CrystalVision has already built installations containing more than 30 individual pots, all integrated into a single control and data system.
Typical weighing performance:
Accuracy: approximately 0.2% of full scale
Resolution: approximately 1/10,000 of full load
The final configuration is selected according to plant size, required capacity and research objectives.
Lysimeter Configurations
Above-Ground Lysimeters
In an above-ground system, the growing container and weighing assembly are installed above floor or ground level.
This configuration provides easy access to the lysimeter, weighing equipment, drainage system and sensors, making it particularly convenient for controlled experiments, greenhouses and research facilities where accessibility and flexibility are important.
Systems can range from individual pots to large arrays of independently controlled lysimeters.
In-Ground Lysimeters
In an in-ground configuration, the growing container is installed so that the plant and soil surface remain close to the surrounding ground level.
This allows the plant to grow under conditions that more closely resemble the surrounding field while still providing precise weighing, controlled irrigation and drainage measurement.
In-ground systems are particularly useful for field research, larger plants and trees where reproducing natural growing conditions is important.
A lysimeter carousel consists of multiple growing containers installed on a circular track and moved continuously through the experimental area.
Because the plants change position over time, they are exposed more evenly to environmental variations such as sunlight, shade, temperature and humidity. This can reduce the influence of location within the experimental area and improve comparison between treatments.
It is especially useful for comparative experiments involving different irrigation regimes, fertilizers, soil conditions or other controlled variables.
Control & Data
Current CrystalVision lysimeter systems are integrated with Crystal OPC, our control, monitoring and data platform.
Crystal OPC can manage:
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Irrigation and fertigation
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Weight measurements
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Drainage measurements
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Research sensors
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Experimental sequences
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Real-time monitoring
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Historical data
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Remote access
This provides researchers with one environment for operating the experiment and reviewing the resulting data, whether the installation contains one lysimeter or dozens.
Key Specifications:
System scale: 10 L to 25 tons
Number of lysimeters: Configured according to the experiment; systems with 30+ pots have been built
Typical weighing accuracy: Approx. 0.2% of full scale
Weight resolution: Approx. 1/10,000 of full load
Irrigation & fertigation: Automated
Drainage measurement: Available
Additional sensors: According to research requirements
Control platform: Crystal OPC
Configurations: Above-ground, in-ground, carousel
Remote monitoring: Supported
Final specifications are defined according to each research project.
Extensive Lysimeter Experience
CrystalVision has designed and built dozens of lysimeter systems in Israel and internationally. Rather than supplying only a weighing platform, we provide complete systems combining weighing, irrigation, drainage, instrumentation, control and data acquisition.
See our Cocoa Research Lysimeter Case Study →
Designed Around Your Experiment
Every research program is different.
CrystalVision works with researchers to define the number and size of lysimeters, weighing capacity, installation type, irrigation and drainage configuration, sensors and control architecture.
Tell us what you need to measure, and we can design the lysimeter system around your experiment.
Lysimeter Systems