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Influence of gravimetric water content and bulk density on the dielectric properties of soil
Author(s) -
PERDOK U.D.,
KROESBERGEN B.,
HILHORST M.A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
european journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 1351-0754
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1996.tb01410.x
Subject(s) - water content , loam , bulk density , gravimetric analysis , reflectometry , soil science , compaction , environmental science , water retention curve , dielectric , time domain , materials science , soil water , geotechnical engineering , field capacity , geology , chemistry , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , computer science , computer vision
Summary Moisture content and bulk density largely characterize physical and mechanical soil status and behaviour. A nondestructive determination of these soil properties is essential. Time domain reflectometry (TDR), although widely accepted for determination of volumetric water content, θ , has its limitations, and recently a frequency domain (FD) sensor has been developed and tested. An equation relating relative permittivity, ɛ′, to gravimetric water content, w , and bulk density, p , was established for three soil types (sand, sandy loam and clay). If ɛ′ and w are known, our model can be used to calculate bulk density and associated volumetric water content, θ , keeping in mind that θ= pw. Utilization is found in long‐term monitoring of moisture fluctuations or short‐term detection of traffic‐induced soil compaction.