A Simple Mechanically Weighing Type Lysimeter

A simple mechanically weighing type lysimeter was fabricated and its performance was tested by the measurement of evapotranspiration. The major components of the lysimeter consisted of a weighing mild steel (MS) tank (92 × 92 × 150 cm deep) suspended in another MS tank (115 × 115 × 200 cm deep), knife edges joining the inner tank with the lever, ball bearings at the fulcrum, four graduated levers as well as fixed and adjustable weights. The weighing tank was responsive to minimum weight difference of 250 g. The lysimetric measurements on loss of water due to evapotranspiration in wheat during crown root initiation to tillering stage compared reasonably well with the potential evapotranspiration in that period.