Why does my soil moisture sensor read negative?read negative? · Direct vs. Indirect measurement...
Transcript of Why does my soil moisture sensor read negative?read negative? · Direct vs. Indirect measurement...
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Why does my soil moisture sensor read negative?read negative?
Improving accuracy of dielectric soil moisture sensors
Douglas R. Cobos, Ph.D.Decagon Devices and g
Washington State University
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O tliOutline Introduction
VWC Direct vs. Indirect measurement methods Dielectric permittivity for measuring VWC
Accuracy Definitions and scope Sensor (dielectric) accuracy
Repeatability Electrical conductivity effects Temperature effects
C ti di l t i itti it t VWC Converting dielectric permittivity to VWC Dielectric mixing model Factors affections permittivity to VWC relationship Soil specific calibrations Soil specific calibrations
Installation quality Sidewall installations Down hole installationsDown hole installations Hard and stony soils
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V l t i t t tVolumetric water content
Volumetric Water Content (VWC): Symbol Symbol –
Vwater /Vsoil
15%Air
35%Water
50%Soil
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Measurement techniquesMeasurement techniques
Direct measurements Direct measurements Directly measure the property e.g. length with calipers g g p
Indirect measurements Measure another property and relate it Measure another property and relate it
to the property of interest through a calibration
e.g. expansion of liquid in a tube to determine temperature
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Direct measurement of VWCDirect measurement of VWC
Volumetric water content (θ) Obtain moist soil sample with known volume Obtain moist soil sample with known volume Weigh moist sample Dry sample at 105o C for 24 hy p Weigh dry sample
drymoist MM
sample
drymoist
V
5
sample
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Dielectric theory: How it worksDielectric theory: How it works
In a heterogeneous medium: In a heterogeneous medium: Volume fraction of any
constituent is related to the total
Material Dielectric Permittivity
Air 1dielectric permittivity.
Ch i tit t
Air 1Soil Minerals 3 - 16Organic Matter 2 - 5 Changing any constituent
volume changes the total dielectric.
Organic Matter 2 5Ice 5 Water 80
Changes in water volume have the most significant effect on thethe most significant effect on the total dielectric.
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Relating dielectric permittivity to VWCRelating dielectric permittivity to VWC
y = 4.30E-06x3 - 5.50E-04x2 + 2.92E-02x - 5.30E-020 50
0.60
nten
tTopp eqn.
0 30
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wat
er c
on
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met
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0.00
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0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Vol
u
Dielectric permittivity
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O tliOutline Introduction
VWC Direct vs. Indirect measurement methods Dielectric permittivity for measuring VWC
Accuracy Definitions and scope Sensor (dielectric) accuracy
Repeatability Electrical conductivity effects Temperature effects
C ti di l t i itti it t VWC Converting dielectric permittivity to VWC Dielectric mixing model Factors affections permittivity to VWC relationship Soil specific calibrations Soil specific calibrations
Installation quality Sidewall installations Down hole installationsDown hole installations Hard and stony soils
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AccuracyAccuracy Accuracy Ho close Accuracy - How close
the measured value is to the actual (absolute) ( )value.
P i i Th d Precision - The degree of reproducibility of measurement.
Resolution - The ll h hsmallest change that can
be detected.
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Accuracy (of what measurement?)Accuracy (of what measurement?)
What does it mean?What does it mean?Dielectric permittivity
accuracy?accuracy?VWC accuracy?
Can a sensor really have 1% VWC f ll1% VWC accuracy for all soils?
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Factors affecting VWC accuracyFactors affecting VWC accuracy
1. Sensor’s ability to measure dielectric permittivity accurately (sensoraccurately (sensor accuracy)
2. Relationship between dielectric permittivity anddielectric permittivity and VWC
3. Installation quality
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O tliOutline Introduction
VWC Direct vs. Indirect measurement methods Dielectric permittivity for measuring VWC
Accuracy Definitions and scope Sensor (dielectric) accuracy
Repeatability Electrical conductivity effects Temperature effects
C ti di l t i itti it t VWC Converting dielectric permittivity to VWC Dielectric mixing model Factors affections permittivity to VWC relationship Soil specific calibrations Soil specific calibrations
Installation quality Sidewall installations Down hole installationsDown hole installations Hard and stony soils
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Sensor accuracySensor accuracy
Sensor accuracy
Accuracy with which sensor measures dielectric permittivity
This is the ONLY specification that the sensor manufacturer can reliably give
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Sensor accuracy: S t bilitSensor-sensor repeatability
Manufacturer must control processes so that all sensors read the same EC 5 10HS EC-5, 10HS
Some sensors are calibrated against dielectric permittivity standards to improve repeatabilitypermittivity standards to improve repeatability Calibration drives up cost 5TE, 5TM, GS3, RS3
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Sensor Accuracy:Electrical conductivity (salt) effectsElectrical conductivity (salt) effects
Depends on the ability of the sensor to separate real (capacitive) and imaginary (conductive) ( p ) g y ( )components of dielectric permittivity
Low frequency sensors, such as the discontinued EC-10 and EC-20 (5 MHz) have high sensitivity to saltssalts
With hi h f (70 100 MH ) With new higher frequency sensors (70-100 MHz), effects are only apparent in saline soils
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Sensor Accuracy:Temperature effectsTemperature effects
Sensor electronics must have negligible inherent temperature sensitivitytemperature sensitivity
Dielectric permittivity of soil water is temperature dependent Weak negative correlation
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Sensor Accuracy:Temperature effects from EC sensitivityTemperature effects from EC sensitivity
Electrical conductivity of soil solution is highly temperature dependent
450.15
dependent Strong positive correlation Often causes diurnal temperature 25
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35
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e (C
)
psensitivity
Impossible to compensate in electronics
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Tem
pera
ture
VW
C
VWCmeas
T
electronics Must do correction during data
analysis0
5
0.057/19 7/21 7/23 7/25 7/27 7/29
time
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O tliOutline Introduction
VWC Direct vs. Indirect measurement methods Dielectric permittivity for measuring VWC
Accuracy Definitions and scope Sensor (dielectric) accuracy
Repeatability Electrical conductivity effects Temperature effects
C ti di l t i itti it t VWC Converting dielectric permittivity to VWC Dielectric mixing model Factors affections permittivity to VWC relationship Soil specific calibrations Soil specific calibrations
Installation quality Sidewall installations Down hole installationsDown hole installations Hard and stony soils
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Converting dielectric permittivity to VWCConverting dielectric permittivity to VWC
Commonly called a calibration equation Commonly called a calibration equation Fundamentally different from dielectric calibration
Each soil has a different relationship Most mineral soils have similar relationship Relationship generally determined empirically Topp equation used extensively
Sensor manufacturer cannot control or specify this relationshipthis relationship
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Accuracy of permittivity/VWC relationshipAccuracy of permittivity/VWC relationship
2/12/12/12/1 2/12/12/12/1wmmaab xx
• is the relative dielectric permittivity.
• x is the volume fraction.
• The subscripts b, a, m, and w refer to bulk, air, mineral and water.
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Accuracy of permittivity/VWC relationship y p y/ p
By rearranging we can get an equation relatingBy rearranging, we can get an equation relating water content to:• εb: Bulk permittivity (sensor accuracy)• εb: Bulk permittivity (sensor accuracy) • ρb: Bulk density of soil • εm: Permittivity of mineralsm y• ρs: Particle density• εw: Permittivity of water
/)1(1 2/12/1 sbmb 1
)(2/1
w
sbmb
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Accuracy of permittivity/VWC relationship Effect of bulk density on accuracy
Bulk density of soils varies widely Agricultural soils can range from 0.8 to 1.8 g/cm3 Agricultural soils can range from 0.8 to 1.8 g/cm This represents ±2.5% VWC error
If we consider organic soils or compacted soils, the e o can be m ch la gethe error can be much larger.
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Accuracy of permittivity/VWC relationship
Effect of mineral permittivity
Dielectric permittivity of minerals typically 3-7 This represents ±2 5% VWC error This represents ±2.5% VWC error Titanium minerals can have permittivity of over 100!
Mineral permittivity not generally a major fsource of error (but can be in some situations)
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Accuracy of permittivity/VWC relationship Effect of dielectric permittivity of water
Dielectric Permittivity of free water is around 80 at room temperature80 at room temperature. The dielectric decreases with increasing
temperature at about 0.5%/ºC .temperature at about 0.5%/ C . At a VWC of 20%, a ±20 ºC temperature change
results is a ±1.2% change in predicted VWCg p
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Accuracy of permittivity/VWC relationship Effect of dielectric permittivity of water (continued)
Water that is “bound” to particles or organic matter Water that is bound to particles or organic matter has lower apparent permittivity than “free” water Largest error in clay soils or high organic soils Higher frequency dielectric sensors (TDR, TDT) more
significantly affected Capacitance or frequency domain sensors generally not p q y g y
affected
Ice Ice Permittivity = 5 (liquid water = 80)
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Generic calibrationsWhat we typically expect in mineral soilWhat we typically expect in mineral soil
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Generic calibrations fail when: G a b a o a
Saturation extract EC is greater than 10 dS/m Saturation extract EC is greater than 10 dS/m
Your soils are not “typical” soils Your soils are not typical soils Organic soils Volcanic soils Volcanic soils Odd mineralogy (e.g. titanium) soils Non-soil media (potting soil, peat, rockwool, perlite, cocus,Non soil media (potting soil, peat, rockwool, perlite, cocus,
etc.)
Your study requires better than about 3% VWC accuracy
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Why do my sensors read negative?Generic calibration doesn’t match your soilGeneric calibration doesn t match your soil
28 Kizito et. al (2008)
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Soil specific calibrationsSoil-specific calibrations
Several methods are commonly tried Several methods are commonly tried Some produce good results, some don’t Dry down method (and modifications of this
method) Homogenized soil calibration
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Soil-specific calibrationsDry down method
Sensors are placed in saturated Sensors are placed in saturated soil in a large container (with or without plants).p )
Container is weighed to calculate actual volumetriccalculate actual volumetric water content.
“A t l l t i t “Actual volumetric water content” is correlated with sensor outputsensor output.
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Soil-specific calibrationsDry down method
BenefitsBenefits Appears to mimic environmental conditions Soil disturbance is minimized
Limitations H t it i d i tt Heterogeneity in drying pattern Results highly dependant upon where the
sensor is within the container Small amount of work involved, but can take
months Almost ne e gi es good es lts Almost never gives good results
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Soil-specific calibrations pHomogenized soil method (recommended)
Pack dry soil to desired bulk density Pack dry soil to desired bulk density
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Soil-specific calibrations
Carefully insert sensor and record output
pHomogenized soil method (recommended)
Carefully insert sensor and record output (multiple times)
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Soil-specific calibrations
Collect known volume(s) of soil to obtain
pHomogenized soil method (recommended)
Collect known volume(s) of soil to obtain true (absolute) VWC by oven drying
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Soil-specific calibrations
Add arbitrary amount of water and mix
pHomogenized soil method (recommended)
Add arbitrary amount of water and mix thoroughly
R t Repeat
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Soil-specific calibrations pHomogenized soil method
BenefitsBenefits Homogenized soil prevents differences in VWC in sample Volumetric sub-samples give true VWC by direct oven drying
method No specialized equipment neededLimitationsLimitations Disturbed soil sample Bulk density hard to control as water is added to soily Volumetric sub-samples impossible to collect in some materials
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Soil-specific calibrations pHomogenized soil method
We highly recommend the homogenized method to customersto customers Step-by-step instructions at www.Decagon.com Calibration service offered (dozens of soils/non-soil Calibration service offered (dozens of soils/non soil
media calibrated)
With care, should be able to get VWC accuracy to ±1% VWCto ±1% VWC
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O tliOutline Introduction
VWC Direct vs. Indirect measurement methods Dielectric permittivity for measuring VWC
Accuracy Definitions and scope Sensor (dielectric) accuracy
Repeatability Electrical conductivity effects Temperature effects
C ti di l t i itti it t VWC Converting dielectric permittivity to VWC Dielectric mixing model Factors affections permittivity to VWC relationship Soil specific calibrations Soil specific calibrations
Installation quality Sidewall installations Down hole installationsDown hole installations Hard and stony soils
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Installation qualityInstallation quality
Th i l l t f iThe single largest source of error in measured VWC is poor installation!
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Installation sensitivity of measurementInstallation – sensitivity of measurement
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Installation qualityV idVoids
Typically occur near sensor where sensitivity is greatest
Unsaturated soil Voids drain VWC underestimatedOften results in negative VWC measurementg
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Installation qualityB lk d itBulk density
Earlier analysis showed effect of bulk density on measured dielectric/VWC
Disturbed or repacked soil often has different bulk density y
Insert sensor into undisturbed soil!Insert sensor into undisturbed soil!
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Proper installationSid llSidewall
Di t h t d i d Dig trench to desired depth
Carefully insert sensor yinto undisturbed side wall
Backfill trench at Backfill trench at native bulk density
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Proper installationSid llSidewall
AdvantagesAdvantages Visual and tactile confirmation of quality
insertioninsertionUndisturbed soil above sensorHorizontal insertion measures VWC atHorizontal insertion measures VWC at
discrete depthMost common and accepted methodost co o a d accepted et od
DisadvantagesDisadvantages Large excavation (effort) Large scale soil disturbance Large scale soil disturbance
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Proper installationDown holeDown hole
Auger hole to desired Auger hole to desired depth Often 45˚ angle Often 45 angle
Insert sensor into undisturbed soil in bottom of hole
Carefully backfill hole at native bulk densitynative bulk density
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Proper installationD h lDown hole
AdvantagesAdvantagesDeep installations possibleMinimal soil disturbanceMinimal soil disturbance
Disadvantages Impossible to verify quality
installationOne hole per sensor Installation tool necessary
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InstallationH d t ilHard or stony soils
Hard soils Use tool to make pilot hole Must be slightly smaller than sensor
Stony soilsy Sieve stones from a volume of soil Re-pack sieved soil around sensorp
Disturbed sample Possible poor accuracy Still measures dynamics well
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4th source of error – point vs. field scalep(I know I said I was only going to talk about 3)
All dielectric sensors have small measurement volume (10’s to 100’s of cm3)volume (10 s to 100 s of cm )
Scaling point measurements to representative field scale measurement is difficultfield scale measurement is difficult Replicated measurements and averaging Other strategies available Other strategies available Whole topic is outside the scope of this discussion
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Take home pointsTake-home points 3 sources of error in VWC measurement 3 sources of error in VWC measurement Sensor error How accurately the sensor measures dielectric
permittivity Only factor that can be controlled by manufacturer
Dielectric permittivity to VWC conversion Depends on bulk density, temperature, mineralogy Generic calibrations work for most “typical” soils Soil-specific calibration necessary in some cases
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Take home pointsTake-home points Installation quality Installation quality Single most important factor for accurate
measurementsmeasurements Good sensor contact with soil is critical