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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #95892
Title: CALIBRATION OF SOIL HEAT DISSIPATION SENSORS FOR MONITORING SOIL WATER CONTENT

Author
item STARKS, PATRICK
item WILLIAMS, ROBERT

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In recent years soil water sensors have been introduced which respond relatively quickly to changes in matric potential in the -10 to -1500 kPa range. These sensors operate on a heat dissipation principle, and typical laboratory calibration is time-consuming and can be expensive if the required laboratory apparatus is purchased. Over 100 sensors were purchased for deployment in a research watershed and a simplified calibration approach was needed. Laboratory calibration data from twenty three sensors were statistically evaluated. A generalized calibration equation was developed which requires only one known calibration point per sensor. Validity of the soil water content estimates via the generalized equation was tested by statistical and graphical comparison with independent measurements. Preliminary results indicate good agreement between the estimated and measured values.