Principle and Usage of Soil Tensiometer

• Posted by Binda BindaJD August 7, 2023 Filed in Technology #Soil Tensiometer  48 views
  click to rate

  There is a saying that states one of the characteristics of water: "Water flows downhill". As we all know, water in nature always flows from high to low. Water is from the soil to the roots of the crop is because the soil water potential is higher than the root water potential. Crops of the root system is in direct contact with the soil, affecting the root system to absorb water is mainly the soil water matrix potential and infiltration potential.

   

  In non-saline, freshwater irrigated, unsaturated soil water, both most field situations, the energetic state of soil water depends mainly on the soil matrix potential. The soil tensiometer, which provides a rapid determination of soil water potential, is an instrument specifically designed to determine the soil matrix potential, which measures the force exerted by the crop root system to draw water from the soil (soil water suction).

   

  Soil water suction when the intensity of soil water potential indicators, and soil water flow and the effectiveness of the plant is closely related to the meaning of the soil water content is different, it is in the soil water potential of the strength of the above not in the more or less on the reflection of the soil degree of wet and dry. Soil tensiometer is a kind of instrument to observe soil water tension.

   

  The soil water tension measured by the tensiometer is the soil's suction to water. The wetter the soil is, the less suction it has for water; the opposite is true. When the soil moisture increases to all the voids filled with water, soil water tension will drop to zero. In other words, at this time the soil water content has reached saturation. The saturated water content of various soils, to weight water content and volumetric water content are not to, but for the soil water tension is to are zero.

   

  The capillary rupture water contents of the various soils were also non-consistent, while the soil tensions were near-consistent. The effect of soil water on crops is basically the same for all soils in the range from saturated water content to capillary rupture water content. Different soils have different water contents under the same soil water tension scale, but the same soil water energy scale is the same for crop physiological water demand and root uptake.

   

  Strictly speaking, the soil water tension corresponding to the same soil water content in the soil water release process and the water absorption process are different, which is due to the hysteresis effect of soil water. Generally speaking, the soil water absorption process is short-lived. This must be based on measured data to find out the soil water content and soil water tension of the relationship between the formula, with this relationship can be observed according to the soil water tension at any time to know the corresponding soil water content, based on the test of the soil water tension standard can be guided by the farm irrigation, conditions permit, but also according to the soil water tension standard automatic control of irrigation. This will no longer use the drying method to determine the soil water content, thus greatly reducing labor intensity, improve the efficiency of work. Because of this, it is very important to popularize in changing agricultural irrigation techniques.

   

  We know that plants need a certain amount of soil water to grow, and the amount of water in the soil determines the amount of nutrients, water, growth and development of the plant. With the development of agriculture, more growers want to grow better plants, with higher crop yields and quality. So they want to know the exact irrigation cycle of their plants, giving them a point in time to irrigate. The Soil Tensiometer is able to give growers such a point of irrigation. It clearly tells the grower if the plant is short of water, how soon it will be short of water and how often it should be irrigated. This improves the product and quality of the crop.