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Soil‐Moisture Measurement by the Neutron Method in Rocky Wildland Soils
Author(s) -
Koshi Paul T.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1966.03615995003000020038x
Subject(s) - soil water , moisture , water content , environmental science , calibration , soil science , neutron , calibration curve , geology , geotechnical engineering , materials science , nuclear physics , chemistry , physics , composite material , chromatography , detection limit , quantum mechanics
To accurately interpret moisture readings taken by the neutron‐scattering technique in rocky soils, methods of access tube installation, influence of voids and rocks around access tubes, and accuracy of factory calibration curve were evaluated. Because access tubes could not be installed by the hand‐auger method where hard rocks were present, power‐driven portable drilling rigs were tried. Vacuum evacuation of cuttings in wet soils failed. Water injection worked well except in the presence of loose rocks. Air injection was most satisfactory except in wet clays. Voids around access tubes of < ⅜ inch had little or no influence on slow neutron count rates. Rocks had little influence on soil moisture determination unless they were large. Because readings of soil moisture from factory calibration seemed too high, a laboratory calibration curve was developed.