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Soil Science Society of America Journal 64:1940-1946 (2000)
© 2000 Soil Science Society of America

DIVISION S-1-SOIL PHYSICS

Soil Material, Temperature, and Salinity Effects on Calibration of Multisensor Capacitance Probes

R.L. Baumhardta, R.J. Lascanob and S.R. Evetta

a USDA-ARS, Conservation and Production Research Lab., P.O. Drawer 10, Bushland, TX 79012-0010 USA
b Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Route 3, Box 219, Lubbock, TX 79401-9757 USA

lbaumhar{at}ag.gov

Multisensor capacitance probes (MCAP) are an alternative to gravimetric or nuclear soil water content ({theta}v, m3 m-3) measurements. Their {theta}v measurements are more convenient than gravimetric, and don't carry the nuclear regulatory burdens. Previous studies noted potential salinity and temperature effects on MCAP {theta}v determinations. Our objectives were to calibrate and verify MCAP {theta}v measurement accuracy in two soil materials, two water salinities (1.3 and 11.3 dS m-1), and with diurnal temperature fluctuations. The surface and calcic horizons of an Olton soil (fine, mixed, superactive, thermic Aridic Paleustoll) were packed into triplicate, 0.5-m-tall, 100-L columns and wetted. We compared {theta}v determined by volumetric measurements, time domain reflectometry (TDR), and MCAPs. The TDR {theta}v were within ±0.01 m3 m-3 of volumetric determinations for air-dry and saturated soil. The factory supplied universal MCAP calibration provided accurate {theta}v estimates for air dry (±0.01 m3 m-3) surface and calcic soil materials but not after wetting ({approx}-0.05 m3 m-3). Also, imprecise MCAP sensor positioning during water frequency parameter determination was problematic and biased initial {theta}v measurements. After calibration against TDR, the MCAP {theta}v varied ±0.01 m3 m-3 from measured {theta}v for air-dry and saturated conditions for both soil materials, which were then pooled to obtain one calibration. Column resaturation with saline water affected permittivity and elevated MCAP {theta}v {approx}0.25 m3 m-3 above the available pore space. Cyclical soil temperature fluctuations of 15°C induced similar fluctuations in indicated {theta}v throughout the column (0.04 m3 m-3 for MCAP and 0.02 m3 m-3 for TDR), which was attributed to variations in permittivity.

Abbreviations: DOY, day of year • EC, electrical conductivity • MCAP, multisensor capacitance probe • TDR, time domain reflectometry • Fs, Fa, and Fw, sensor frequency in soil, air, and water • RMSE, root mean square error • SD, standard deviation • SF, scaled sensor frequency • {theta}v, volumetric water content




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