Articles
Real-time 2D visualisation of soil water dynamics in the apple rootzone using a multi-sensor capacitance probe array
Article number
1468_37
Pages
281 – 288
Language
English
Abstract
The use of intensive soil water monitoring with multiple depth sensor arrays in representative soil volumes can indicate plant water usage rates in the broader scale.
Multiple Sentek soil moisture monitoring probes were installed adjacent to immature apple trees (Malus domestica ‘Aztec Fuji®’ on M26 rootstock) irrigated with an above-ground drip system.
The probes were arranged within the plant rootzone in a transect line extending from a water emitter.
Soil water data was collected on a near-continuous basis simultaneously across the probe array.
This was analyzed using IrriMAX™ 2D Viewer software to visualise the water distribution in the soil in 2-dimensions.
This software uses automated cubic spline interpolation techniques to generate contour maps and video animations of the water dynamics.
The soil water scaling is obtained from the whole data set and planar views are painted with false colors to visualise the dynamics of the water movement throughout the soil profile.
This method allows the visualisation of the spatial distribution of water in the soil and the duration of time over which such a distribution persists.
This gave insights into the plant usage and soil drainage characteristics that could be applied over the larger area.
Careful consideration of the data showed that root architecture and the passage of mobile salts could also be indicated.
This visualisation technique was shown to be a valuable tool for the understanding of the passage of water and nutrients throughout the managed rootzone.
The data was also used to make calculations of water use efficiency (WUE) and evapotranspiration stress index (ETSI).
Multiple Sentek soil moisture monitoring probes were installed adjacent to immature apple trees (Malus domestica ‘Aztec Fuji®’ on M26 rootstock) irrigated with an above-ground drip system.
The probes were arranged within the plant rootzone in a transect line extending from a water emitter.
Soil water data was collected on a near-continuous basis simultaneously across the probe array.
This was analyzed using IrriMAX™ 2D Viewer software to visualise the water distribution in the soil in 2-dimensions.
This software uses automated cubic spline interpolation techniques to generate contour maps and video animations of the water dynamics.
The soil water scaling is obtained from the whole data set and planar views are painted with false colors to visualise the dynamics of the water movement throughout the soil profile.
This method allows the visualisation of the spatial distribution of water in the soil and the duration of time over which such a distribution persists.
This gave insights into the plant usage and soil drainage characteristics that could be applied over the larger area.
Careful consideration of the data showed that root architecture and the passage of mobile salts could also be indicated.
This visualisation technique was shown to be a valuable tool for the understanding of the passage of water and nutrients throughout the managed rootzone.
The data was also used to make calculations of water use efficiency (WUE) and evapotranspiration stress index (ETSI).
Authors
M. Dalton, K. Hoang, A. Treijs, S. Green, A. Green, M. Intervera
Keywords
2D array, capacitance, ETSI, salt, soil water, transect, WUE
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