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Using an Electro‐Optical Switch to Measure Soil Water Suction
Author(s) -
Cary J. W.,
Gee G. W.,
Simmons C. S.
Publication year - 1991
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/sssaj1991.03615995005500060049x
Subject(s) - hygrometer , materials science , suction , loam , wetting , photoresistor , filter (signal processing) , tensiometer (surface tension) , optics , soil water , optoelectronics , composite material , humidity , environmental science , electrical engineering , soil science , mechanical engineering , surface tension , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , thermodynamics
A simple and inexpensive electro‐optical switch (infrared light‐emitting diode; IR LED) was used to show that soil water suctions can be measured accurately by employing nylon filter disks with different pore sizes. Nylon filter disks that become translucent when water is absorbed were shown to open or close an electro‐optical switch at specific soil water suctions associated with the air‐entry suction of a disk, thereby demonstrating the principle of a digital tensiometer. Sensors constructed by inserting a nylon filter disk in a switch were shown to operate across a suction range of 0.004 to 2.4 MPa and were tested in a silt loam soil under drying and wetting conditions. The switch‐sensor's performance was compared with a second type of sensor (CdS photoresistor with LED) made with a layered fritted‐glass disk instead of nylon. This second sensor was able to continuously detect changes of water content from air dry to saturated. We concluded, however, that the first type of sensor was superior for precisely measuring soil water suction.