HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Scholl, D. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Scholl, D. G. Agricola Articles by Scholl, D. G.

A Two-Element Ceramic Sensor for Matric Potential and Salinity Measurements¹

ABSTRACT

A two-element ceramic sensor was developed to produce optimum electrical response both to soil water matric potential and salinity. A spring-loaded housing was developed for the elements for either drill-hole or pit-face placement. The sensors were calibrated under various matric potential, salinity, and temperature conditions. An initial field test with 72 sensors was conducted under irrigated coal mine spoil conditions. Laboratory and field results indicated reasonable instrument precision over a wide range of matric potential and salinity. The correlation between sensor output and water content in the field was best where the mean of several sensors was used.

¹ The research reported here is a contribution to the SEAM program. Seam, an acronym for Surface Environment and Mining, is a USDA Forest Service program to research, develop, and apply technology that will help maintain a quality environment and other surface values while helping meet the Nation's mineral requirements. The field tests were conducted at Navajo mine, in northwest New Mexico, in cooperation with Utah Int., Inc.

² Soil Scientist, located at the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Exp. Stn. Res. Work Unit at Albuquerque, NM in cooperation with the Univ. of New Mex.; the Station's central headquarters is maintained at Fort Collins in cooperation with Colo. State Univ.

Received for publication May 25, 1977. Accepted for publication February 13, 1978.