Soil matric potential and salinity measurement apparatus and method of use

摘要

A soil parameter measurement arrangement includes a capacitive based soil moisture and salinity sensor, a predetermined moisture migration medium located in a volume adjacent said sensor so that the medium substantially occupies the field of influence of said sensor. The medium is in moisture communication with the soil to be measured, and said sensor is adapted to measure and produce data representative of the volumetric water content of said medium. A sensor data processing means determines both the soil moisture and salinity of said medium. By using the measured volumetric soil moisture content and the moisture release curve of the medium, it is possible to derive the matric potential of the soil. The measured salinity of the medium corresponds to the salinity of the soil that is in moisture communication with the medium.