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Published in Soil Sci Soc Am J 21:11-15 (1957)
© 1957 Soil Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Use of Thermistors for the Measurement of Soil Moisture and Temperature1

M. E. Bloodworth and J. B. Page2

ABSTRACT

Basic information on soil moisture availability for proper plant growth and development is essential in irrigated areas. This has practical applications for determining the rate and zone of moisture use by plants as well as the over-all irrigation requirements of crops.

It has been recognized that the thermal method of soil moisture measurement offers one of the best possibilities of being unaffected by salt in addition to covering the available moisture range with acceptable sensitivity. By using a thermistor as a combination heating element and temperature indicator, it has been found that such a unit, when cast in a porous material, serves as an accurate moisture indicating device.

Laboratory experiments have indicated that this method of moisture measurement covers the available moisture range, with its greatest sensitivity near and below field capacity. The thermal units have been unaffected by salt concentrations normally found in agricultural soils.

NOTES

1 A contribution of the Texas Agr. Exp. Sta. and Department of Agronomy, A. & M. College of Texas, College Station, Texas. Presented before Div. I, Soil Science Society of America, Dallas, Texas. Nov. 17, 1953.

2 Associate Soil Physicist, Lower Rio Grande Valley Exp. Sta., Weslaco, Tex. (Formerly Graduate Assistant, Department of Agronomy and Texas Agr. Exp. Sta., College Station, Tex.), and Head, Department of Agronomy, A. & M. College of Texas, College Station, Tex., respectively. Senior author is now Associate Professor of Soil Physics and the junior author is now Dean of the Graduate School, A. & M. College of Texas, College Station, Tex.

Received for publication January 30, 1956. Accepted for publication June 1, 1956.






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Copyright © 1957 by the Soil Science Society of America.