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Soil Water Content Determination Using Network Analyzer Reflectometry Methods

School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1085

B. Lowery, E. T. Cooley and G. L. Hart

Dep. of Soil Science, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, 1525 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706-1299

*Corresponding author (starr.69{at}osu.edu).

ABSTRACT

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) can be a good automated system for measuring soil water content (_v); however, TDR can yield noisy data and cannot measure frequency dependence of the dielectric constant (K_a). Using a network analyzer (NA) with a low-noise synthesized TDR, parallel-rod probes, and a resonant waveguide approach, _v was measured from 0.02 to 0.25 m³ m^-3 within the range of 50 to 900 MHz in sand. Below 100 MHz, K_a was higher than it was within the range of 100 to 900 MHz; however, in the 100 to 900 MHz range K_a did not change with frequency. The NA compared favorably with TDR.

Research supported by USDA-CSREES-NRI and Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Received for publication July 2, 1997.

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