Root Washing System - for Research and Breeding

The manual separation of roots from mineral soil cores is a labor-intensive and costly process. The hydropneumatic root washer, built by Gillison's and used for decades in several North American research institutions, can perform this task semi-automatically, significantly speeding up the process and reducing labor costs. In the Root Washer system, roots are washed out of the soil using a combination of hydraulic and pneumatic systems (hydropneumatic), while a timer controls the washing process. Soil samples with roots are placed into the pipes, and the roots float to a screening system at the top, where they are collected. The washed soil is occasionally emptied from the lower settling basin. Various screen diameters (210µm, 297µm, 350µm, 500µm, and 1000µm for clay to sand) and washing times can be combined to achieve optimal washing cycles.