Journal Article

FZJ-2023-03029

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Evaluation of Three Soil Moisture Profile Sensors Using Laboratory and Field Experiments

Nieberding, F. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Huisman, J. A.FZJ* ; Huebner, C.Extern* ; Schilling, B.FZJ* ; Weuthen, A.FZJ* ; Bogena, H.FZJ*

2023
MDPI Basel

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3390/s23146581  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2023-03029

Abstract: Soil moisture profile sensors (SMPSs) have a high potential for climate-smart agriculture due to their easy handling and ability to perform simultaneous measurements at different depths. To date, an accurate and easy-to-use method for the evaluation of long SMPSs is not available. In this study, we developed laboratory and field experiments to evaluate three different SMPSs (SoilVUE10, Drill&Drop, and SMT500) in terms of measurement accuracy, sensor-to-sensor variability, and temperature stability. The laboratory experiment features a temperature-controlled lysimeter to evaluate intra-sensor variability and temperature stability of SMPSs. The field experiment features a water level-controlled sandbox and reference TDR measurements to evaluate the soil water measurement accuracy of the SMPS. In both experiments, a well-characterized fine sand was used as measurement medium to ensure homogeneous dielectric properties in the measurement domain of the sensors. The laboratory experiments with the lysimeter showed that the Drill&Drop sensor has the highest temperature sensitivity with a decrease of 0.014 m3 m−3 per 10 °C, but at the same time showed the lowest intra- and inter-sensor variability. The field experiment with the sandbox showed that all three SMPSs have a similar performance (average RMSE ≈ 0.023 m3 m−3) with higher uncertainties at intermediate soil moisture contents. The presented combination of laboratory and field tests were found to be well suited to evaluate the performance of SMPSs and will be used to test additional SMPSs in the future.

Note: The grants for this paper can not be selected from the drop down menu. As stated in the paper: This research was funded by the BMBF BioökonomieREVIER funding scheme with its“BioRevierPlus” project “DG-RR” (grant number 031B1137DX) and BMBF funding measure WaX, project “SpreeWasser:N” (grant number 02WEE1633I). Maybe these can be added to the list?Best regards,Felix Nieberding

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Agrosphäre (IBG-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 2173 - Agro-biogeosystems: controls, feedbacks and impact (POF4-217) (POF4-217)

Appears in the scientific report 2023

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