Estimation of Soil Moisture Curves of Mixed Media Using a Dielectric Moisture Sensor

초록

Soil water content is an important component in irrigation scheduling for horticultural crop production. In this study, a moisture sensor (Thetaprobe ML2X) was used to measure water content of several soilless media containing peatmoss, perlite and vermiculite at different ratios. First of all, a calibration test was performed. It was found that parameters, a(0) and a(1), needed for calibration showed a positive relation and were negatively related to a mixing fraction of peatmoss (a(0)=1.165-3.3x10(-2). Pe, R-2=0.800*, and a(1)=8.356-0.566.Pe, R-2=0.858**). Volumetric water content (theta(v)) showed a linear relationship to root square of dielectric constant (K-a) and a polynomial (cubic) relationship to K-a Also, relationship between theta(v) and Thetaprobe output (V) was evaluated. Both linear and polynomial equations were obtained with a high significance (R-2=0.999***) and therefore, results shows theta(v) can be estimated using output (V) by using a simple linear equation.

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