SENSORS FOR IRRIGATION SCHEDULING OF CULTURES IN THE FIELD

The application of growth models requires that more data are known about crops.
IMAG applies sensors and if necessary, develops them.
Measurements have been carried out with capacitive moisture sensors, tensiometers and time-domain reflectometry.

A method for determining the water shortage is based on establishing the water-holding capacity of the soil.
If the field capacity and the wilting point of the soil are known, the loss of moisture below the root zone due to drainage and evaporation can be estimated on the basis of information about the actual humidity of the soil.

Water has a relatively high dielectric constant (approx. 80) compared with dry soil (<5).

Three methods are discussed here, Capacitive moisture sensors, Time Domain Reflectometry and Tensiometers.

I International Workshop on Sensors in Horticulture

C. Werkhoven

capacitive moisture sensors, tensiometer, evaporation time domain reflectrometry, humidity of the soil

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1992.304.29