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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137307
Title: LABORATORY EVALUATION OF A COMMERCIAL DIELECTRIC SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR

Author
item McMichael, Bobbie
item LASCANO, R - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2002
Publication Date: 10/20/2002
Citation: McMichael, B.L., Lascano, R.J. 2002. Laboratory evauluationof a commercial dielectricsoil moisture sensor[abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary: Not required

Technical Abstract: Research to develop management strategies for more efficient utilization of water for crop production requires measurements of changes in soil water content on a dynamic basis. Many of the methods currently used for measuring changes in volumetric soil water content are either destructive, not timely, or relatively cost prohibitive for large scale investigations. A commercially available low cost, relatively non-destructive soil moisture sensor based on changes in the dielectric constant of the soil was evaluated in the laboratory and under field conditions across a wide range of temperatures and water contents. The results indicated that the sensors were relatively temperature stable (< 1.0mv/deg C temperature change from 15 deg to 45 deg C) and that a straightforward two point calibration produced accurate values compared to gravimetric data.