Calibration and modification of impedance probe for near surface soil moisture measurements

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Tsegaye ◽  
W. Tadesse ◽  
T. L. Coleman ◽  
T. J. Jackson ◽  
H. Tewolde
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Shallow Depth ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Impedance Probe

A reliable and low cost sensor that can measure soil moisture at or near the soil surface is currently not available. The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the possibility of modifying an impedance probe (IP) to measure soil moisture content at a very shallow depth (2–5 cm); and (ii) to compare the soil moisture values obtained using the IP to the values obtained using the traditional gravimetric method. The research was conducted at the Winfred A. Thomas Agricultural Research Station (WTARS) Hazel Green, Alabama. The standard IP that is capable of measuring soil moisture content at 6-cm soil depth was modified to measure soil moisture at 2-, 3-, and 5-cm depths. Using a site and depth-specific calibration technique it provided results that were comparable to the values that were obtained following the traditional gravimetric water content determination protocol. We found that the instrument was very sensitive to changes in soil moisture content and has great potential as a replacement for the gravimetric technique. It allows repetitive measurements of soil moisture content at a very shallow depth with minimal soil disturbance. Fur thermore, the instrument is particularly valuable for providing ground- truth soil moisture contents to validate remotely sensed data. Key words: Soil moisture, remote sensing, impedance probe, ground-truth, validation

scholarly journals Studying the Effect of Implement of Two Plowing Depths and Manure Mixing with Soil on the Soil Moisture Content

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-44
Author(s):  
Shaker H. Adday ◽  
Kawther A. Hemeed ◽  
Murtadha A. Al-faris
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Sunflower Crop ◽  
Moldboard Plow

A field experiment was carried out in silty clay soil at Agricultural Research Station of Garmat Ali in order to study the effect of the plowing depths and manure application on soil moisture content at different soil depths (0-10 (d1), 10-20 (d2), 20-30 (d3), 30-40 (d4), 40-50 (d5) and 50-60 cm (d6)) and two periods (after plowing and after harvesting the sunflower crop). The experiment was conducted using an implement of plowing and manure mixing with soil, which consists of two main parts (two moldboard plows and two subsoilers).The implement was designed and manufactured in the Agriculture machines and Equipment Department in 2015. The treatments used in the study were included two levels of manure application (0 and 45.5 ton ha-1) and two plowing depths of moldboard plow (M) with three plowing depths of subsoiler (S). They were 20 cm of moldboard plow with 20, 30 and 40 cm of subsoiler (M20S20, M20S30 and M20S40), and 30 cm of moldboard plow with 10, 20 and 30 cm of subsoiler (M30S10, M30S20 and M30S30). The results showed that the soil moisture content (MC) was significantly decreased with increasing the plowing depths by the moldboard plows and subsoilers especially after soil plowing. While, the MC significantly increased with increasing the soil depth after the plowing and after harvesting the crop. In contrast, mixing the manure with soil at level 45.5 ton ha-1 by the manufactured implement increased the soil moisture content by 10.73% after the plowing and by 2.33% after the harvesting the sunflower crop compared with untreated soil with manure.

Distribution of soil moisture content and its effect on the potential growth of the over-story species in North-East Chalkidiki

2001 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Aslanidou ◽  
P. Smiris
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Moisture Distribution ◽  
Taxus Baccata ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
North East ◽  
Soil Moisture Distribution

This  study deals with the soil moisture distribution and its effect on the  potential growth and    adaptation of the over-story species in north-east Chalkidiki. These  species are: Quercus    dalechampii Ten, Quercus  conferta Kit, Quercus  pubescens Willd, Castanea  sativa Mill, Fagus    moesiaca Maly-Domin and also Taxus baccata L. in mixed stands  with Fagus moesiaca.    Samples of soil, 1-2 kg per 20cm depth, were taken and the moisture content  of each sample    was measured in order to determine soil moisture distribution and its  contribution to the growth    of the forest species. The most important results are: i) available water  is influenced by the soil    depth. During the summer, at a soil depth of 10 cm a significant  restriction was observed. ii) the    large duration of the dry period in the deep soil layers has less adverse  effect on stands growth than in the case of the soil surface layers, due to the fact that the root system mainly spreads out    at a soil depth of 40 cm iii) in the beginning of the growing season, the  soil moisture content is    greater than 30 % at a soil depth of 60 cm, in beech and mixed beech-yew  stands, is 10-15 % in    the Q. pubescens  stands and it's more than 30 % at a soil depth of 60 cm in Q. dalechampii    stands.

scholarly journals Draft Requirement of Two Animal - Drawn Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Weeders

2020 ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Y. A. Unguwanrimi ◽  
A. M. Sada ◽  
G. N. Ugama ◽  
H. S. Garuba ◽  
A. Ugoani
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Experimental Plot ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Loam Soil

Draft requirements of two animal – drawn (IAR) weeders operating on loam soil were determined in the study. The implements include a straddle row weeder and an emcot attached rotary weeder evaluated under the same soil conditions, using a pair of white Fulani breed of oxen. The animal draft requirement was first estimated from the animal ergonomics measurements. Using area of 0.054 hectare as experimental plot for each implement the draft requirement of each implement was investigated after taking soil samples for soil moisture content and bulk density determinations. The implements tested showed variation in their average draft requirement. The straddle row weeder had the highest value of 338.15 N respectively while the emcot attached rotary weeder had the lowest value of 188.12 N with 47.03%, respectively. The average soil moisture contents and bulk density were 13.0% and 1.46%/cm3, respectively.

scholarly journals Effects of soil‐moisture content on shallow‐seismic data

Geophysics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1357-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Jefferson ◽  
Don W. Steeples ◽  
Ross A. Black ◽  
Tim Carr
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Surface Moisture ◽  
Shallow Seismic ◽  
Unconsolidated Material ◽  
Moisture Conditions

Repeated shallow‐seismic experiments were conducted at a site on days with different near‐surface moisture conditions in unconsolidated material. Experimental field parameters remained constant to ensure comparability of results. Variations in the seismic data are attributed to the changes in soil‐moisture content of the unconsolidated material. Higher amplitudes of reflections and refractions were obtained under wetter near‐surface conditions. An increase in amplitude of 21 dB in the 100–300 Hz frequency range was observed when the moisture content increased from 18% to 36% in the upper 0.15 m (0.5 ft) of the subsurface. In the time‐domain records, highly saturated soil conditions caused large‐amplitude ringy wavelets that interfered with and degraded the appearance of some of the reflection information in the raw field data. This may indicate that an intermediate near‐surface moisture content is most conducive to the recording of high‐quality shallow‐seismic reflection data at this site. This study illustrates the drastic changes that can occur in shallow‐seismic data due to variations in near‐surface moisture conditions. These conditions may need to be considered to optimize the acquisition timing and parameters prior to collection of data.

scholarly journals Mulch Effect on Growth and Yield of Vine Vegetables

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-147
Author(s):  
A. K. M. Quamruzzaman ◽  
Ferdouse Islam ◽  
S. R. Mallick
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Fruit Number

An experiment was undertaken to identify the suitable mulch paper for different high value vegetables during the winter season of November 2019 to March 2020 at the research farm of Olericulture Division, Horticulture Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh. The experiment was randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Three vegetables varieties viz., netted melon, watermelon, cucumber and 3 mulch treatments viz., T1=Silver over black mulch; T2= Black mulch; T3= No mulch were included in this study. Different vegetables responded differently with the changes of mulches irrespective of different characters. Considering relationship between the soil moisture content and fruit number it was clear that fruit number, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter was strongly related with soil moisture content. The effect of different plastic mulches on fruit weight per plant and yield (t/ha) were significant. Mulching produced higher fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per hectare than for the control, indicating that the mulch had positive effect in generating increased fruit yield. Silver over black plastic mulch produced the highest fruit yield viz., 24.22 t/ha (cucumber), 26.37 t/ha (netted melon), 43.59 t/ha (watermelon) followed by black and no mulches. Obviously, control plot produced the lowest fruit yield.

GPS Multipath and Its Relation to Near-Surface Soil Moisture Content

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine M. Larson ◽  
John J. Braun ◽  
Eric E. Small ◽  
Valery U. Zavorotny ◽  
Ethan D. Gutmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Surface Soil Moisture ◽  
Near Surface

scholarly journals Aspect and soil textural controls on snowmelt runoff on forested Boreal Plain hillslopes

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd Redding ◽  
Kevin Devito
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Spring Snowmelt

Plot studies were conducted on a jack pine forest with sandy soil and aspen forests with sandy and loam soils to examine the controls of slope aspect, soil texture and fall soil moisture content on near-surface snowmelt runoff and infiltration. It was hypothesized that near-surface runoff would be greater from north-facing slopes on loam soils with increased fall soil moisture content. Fall soil moisture had no measurable effect on spring snowmelt runoff. Infiltration of snowmelt dominated (drainage coefficients 53–100%, median 87%) over near-surface runoff (runoff coefficients 1–65%, median 7%) for most plots. Runoff was related to concrete frost at the mineral soil surface. In contrast to the processes hypothesized, south-facing hillslopes with sandy soils generated greater runoff than north-facing slopes or sites with finer-textured soils. These results were due to greater concrete frost development resulting from periodic spring snowmelt and re-freezing in the upper soil. South-facing hillslopes with sandy soils featured lower canopy cover, allowing greater solar radiation to reach the snow surface which led to the formation of concrete frost and faster melt rates resulting in near-surface runoff. Where hillslopes are connected to receiving surface waters by continuous concrete frost, snowmelt runoff at the watershed scale may be enhanced.

scholarly journals Interaction soil compaction and soil moisture in physiological responses of freshly planted coffee

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 370-378
Author(s):  
Samuel Moreira Dias ◽  
André Cabral França ◽  
Ricardo Siqueira da Silva ◽  
Rita de Cassia Ribeiro Carvalho ◽  
Fabrício Resende de Aguiar
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Root Weight ◽  
Soil Subsurface

In the field, coffee is subject to the stress of soil compaction and lack of water, which may cause changes in the physiological responses of the plant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses of the coffee tree under different soil moisture content and compaction degrees in the soil subsurface. The experimental design was in blocks, arranged in a factorial scheme, with four replications. The first factor corresponds to the two wetlands, 50 and 100% of the soil field capacity. The second factor corresponds to 60, 70, 80 and 90% of soil subsurface compaction. The experimental plot consisted of a Coffea arabica L. plant grown on a polyvinyl chloride column. The physiological responses were evaluated at 180 days of planting. The photosynthetic rate, carbon consumption, CO2 concentration in the substamatic chamber, internal carbon / atmospheric carbon ratio, water efficiency and absolute coffee growth rate were influenced by the different compaction degrees and soil moisture content. The transpiration rate and the root weight ratio were influenced only by the humidity, as opposed to the stomatal conductance and the foliar temperature, which were by degrees of compaction. The ratio of root system per soil layer was influenced by compaction degrees and soil depth. The limitation of root growth and lack of water are the main causes of the decrease in physiological responses. Subsurface compaction and water deficit together potentiate the effect negatively on the physiological responses of freshly seeded coffee plants.

scholarly journals Influence of slope direction on the permafrost degradation: a case study in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingwen Fan ◽  
Zhanju Lin ◽  
fujiun niu ◽  
Zeyong Gao ◽  
Jing Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Permafrost Region ◽  
Permafrost Degradation ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Slope Direction

Slope direction affects permafrost degradation because of its influence on the surface energy balance. The ground thermal difference between slopes of differing aspect is known, however there are few detailed reports on differences in soil temperature, humidity, and radiation from slopes in permafrost areas that caused permafrost degradation. In this study variations in air and ground thermal regime were compared at two sloping sites with opposing aspect in a permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). The results indicate that air temperatures (Ta) were similar at both sites in September 2016-19. However, ground temperatures, including the ground surface temperature (Ts), the temperature near the permafrost surface (Tps), and the permafrost temperature at 5.0 m depth (Tg), and soil moisture content within the active layer differed greatly between sites. The mean annual Ts, Tps, and Tg over three years (2016-19) were 1.3-1.4 ℃ higher at the sunny slope than at the shady slope. The near-surface soil moisture content during the thawing season was 10-13% lower at the sunny slope (~22-27%) than the shady slope (~35-38%), and was significantly and negatively correlated with ground temperature. Shortwave downward radiation (DR) at the sunny slope was higher than at the shady slope. However, net radiation (Rn) was lower at the sunny slope due to the greater surface albedo at the site. The results highlight a complex spatial pattern of ground thermal conditions in mountainous permafrost regions, help define the climate-permafrost relation in the region, and for understanding permafrost degradation on a local scale.

Effects of soil moisture content on CO2 triggered soil physicochemical properties in a near-surface environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 2107-2120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Derakhshan-Nejad ◽  
Woojin Lee ◽  
Seunghee Han ◽  
Jaeyoung Choi ◽  
Seong-Taek Yun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Surface Environment
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