Author
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Busscher, Warren |
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Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2009 Publication Date: 8/5/2009 Citation: Busscher, W.J. 2009. Book Review - Field Estimation of Soil Water Content. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 64:116A. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Field Estimation of Soil Water Content delves into the workings of a number of devices that measure soil water content. The authors aimed the book as a guide to help readers find the soil water measuring devices that perform best under given circumstances; then they give readers information on how to use the devices. Though the author’s conclusions seem to limit acceptable devices, they describe measurement devices in detail including helpful sections on “Hints and tricks.” Because devices are continually being developed and improved, the book could not include all of them; but it covers physical measurements, neutron meters, tensiometers, resistance blocks, and time domain reflectometry and its variants. The book discusses problems with measurement of soil water content and irrigation amount; problems are associated with small sampling volume, limited range of measurement, and calculation of soil water from the surrogate parameter that was actually measured. The book provides an up-to-date look at soil water content measuring devices aimed mainly at preventing plant water stress. It presents the methods in enough detail to make it a useful reference or text. |
