Power-Takeoff Rotary Digger for Establishing Cylindrical Field Microplots in Heavy-Textured Soils. D. C. Crosier, Research Technician, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva 14456. G. S. Abawi, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva 14456. Plant Dis. 69:81-82. Accepted for publication 1 July 1984. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-81.

A conventional posthole auger was modified to construct a circular trench about 4 cm wide by 25 cm deep, leaving a core of soil 122 cm in diameter. Fiberglass cylinders 30 cm deep by 120 cm in diameter were placed in the open trenches and the soil was firmed around the inside and outside surfaces. These field microplots were ideal for investigating the ecology and biology of soilborne pathogens over extended periods with ample and uniform replication and without cross-contamination problems. This digger, which is a modification of the microplot cutter designed for sandy soils, has performed well in rocky and heavy-textured soils with minimum disturbances to the soil profile.