Soil moisture - Frequency domain (SMT100)

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SMT100 Wiki.jpg

Parameter to be measured:

Soil moisture, permittivity, soil temperature

Method:

combination of Frequency Domain Reflectometry and Time domain Reflectometry

Equipment:

  • SMT-100-sensor (TRUEBNER Instruments) with customizable cable length

Advantages:

  • "quasi-TDR" method supposedly yields better results in clay soils
  • Low cost
  • Easy to install
  • compatible with many loggers (RS485, SDI-12 or analogue protocol)

Disadvantages:

  • Soil specific calibration required for highest accuracy

What to watch out for:

  • Good contact between probe and medium required
  • coarse soil may require extra tool for penetrating the soil before installing the sensor

Links

Manufacturer:

Projects that used the above equipment: