Application of time-domain reflectometry (TDR) soil moisture miniprobe for the determination of unsaturated soil water characteristics from undisturbed soil cores

1992 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Malicki ◽  
R. Plagge ◽  
M. Renger ◽  
R.T. Walczak
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Time Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Soil Cores ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Water Characteristics ◽  
Undisturbed Soil Cores

scholarly journals Estimating the van Genuchten retention curve parameters of undisturbed soil from a single upward infiltration measurement

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 682 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Moret-Fernández ◽  
C. Peña-Sancho ◽  
B. Latorre ◽  
Y. Pueyo ◽  
M. V. López
Keyword(s):  
Water Retention ◽  
Time Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Internal Diameter ◽  
Soil Cores ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Retention Curve ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Undisturbed Soil Cores

Estimation of the soil–water retention curve, θ(h), on undisturbed soil samples is of paramount importance to characterise the hydraulic behaviour of soils. Although a method of determining parameters of the water retention curve (α, a scale parameter inversely proportional to mean pore diameter and n, a measure of pore size distribution) from saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), sorptivity (S) and the β parameter, using S and β calculated from the inverse analysis of upward infiltration (UI) has been satisfactorily applied to sieved soil samples, its applicability to undisturbed soils has not been tested. The aim of the present study was to show that the method can be applied to undisturbed soil cores representing a range of textures and structures. Undisturbed soil cores were collected using stainless steel cylinders (5cm internal diameter×5cm high) from structured soils located in two different places: (1) an agricultural loam soil under conventional, reduced and no tillage systems; and (2) a loam soil under grazed and ungrazed natural shrubland. The α and n values estimated for the different soils using the UI method were compared with those calculated using time domain reflectometry (TDR) pressure cells (PC) for pressure heads of –0.5, –1.5, –3, –5, –10 and –50kPa. To compare the two methods, α values measured with UI were calculated to the drying branch of θ(h). For each treatment, three replicates of UI and PC calculations were performed. The results showed that the 5-cm high cylinders used in all experiments provided accurate estimates of S and β. Overall, the α and n values estimated with UI were larger than those measured with PC. These differences could be attributed, in part, to limitations of the PC method. On average, the n values calculated from the optimised S and β data were 5% larger than those obtained with PC. A relationship with a slope close to 1 fitted the n values estimated using both methods (nPC=0.73 nUI+0.49; R2=0.78, P<0.05). The results show that the UI method is a promising technique to estimate the hydraulic properties of undisturbed soil samples.

CORRECTING SOIL VOLUMETRIC WATER CONTENTS FROM A DIRECT-READING TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY INSTRUMENT (IRAMS)

1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 701-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. C. TOPP ◽  
J. L. B. CULLEY
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
Time Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Direct Reading ◽  
Volumetric Soil Water Content ◽  
Linear Correction

Determination of volumetric soil water content (θ) using time domain reflectometry (TDR) is well established. A commercially available instrument (IRAMS) (the IRAMS (Instrument for Reflectometry Analysis of Moisture in Soils) is a trademark registered by Foundation Instruments Inc. of Ottawa) is now available which incorporates computer software, thus providing direct readouts of θ. A field study of the operation of the IRAMS showed that it operates consistently and repeatedly. The IRAMS values were higher but related linearly to those obtained using a TDR cable tester and manual calculations of travel times. A linear correction of the IRAMS readings is proposed and possible causes are suggested for the observed deviations from expected values. Key words: Time domain, reflectometry, soil water content, field

scholarly journals Approaches to calibrate in-situ capacitance soil moisture sensors and some of their implications

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. L. Archer ◽  
B. R. Rawlins ◽  
B. P. Machant ◽  
J. D. Mackay ◽  
P. I. Meldrum
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Soil Cores ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors ◽  
Soil Sensors ◽  
Laboratory Calibration ◽  
Rain Events ◽  
Undisturbed Soil Cores

Abstract. Capacitance probes are increasingly being used to monitor volumetric water content (VWC) in field conditions and are provided with in-built factory calibrations so they can be deployed at a field site without the requirement for local calibration. These calibrations may not always have acceptable accuracy and therefore to improve the accuracy of such calibrations soil-specific laboratory or field calibrations are required. In some cases, manufacturers suggest calibration is undertaken on soil in which the structure has been removed (through sieving or grinding), whilst in other cases manufacturers suggest structure may be retained. The objectives of this investigation were to (i) demonstrate the differences in laboratory calibration of the sensors using both structured and unstructured soils, (ii) compare moisture contents at a range of suctions with those predicted from soil moisture release curves for their texture classes (iii) compare the magnitude of errors for field measurements of soil moisture based on the original factory calibrations and the laboratory-based calibrations using structured soil. Grinding and sieving clay soils to  50 % water to the ground and sieved soil samples, dielectric values to VWC > 50 % were observed to be significantly lower than using undisturbed soil cores taken from the field and therefore undisturbed soil cores were considered to be better to calibrate capacitance probes. Generic factory calibrations for most soil sensors have a range of measurement from 0 to 50 %, which is not appropriate for the studied clay-rich soil, where ponding can occur during persistent rain events, which are common in temperate regions.

Isoproturon movement and dissipation in undisturbed soil cores from a grassed buffer strip

Agronomie ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Benoit ◽  
Enrique Barriuso ◽  
Philippe Vidon ◽  
Benoit Réal
Keyword(s):  
Soil Cores ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Buffer Strip ◽  
Undisturbed Soil Cores
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