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Measurement of Soil Water Content using Time‐domain Reflectrometry (TDR): A Field Evaluation
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1985
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Environmental MonitoringEngineeringAgricultural EconomicsWater QuantityEarth ScienceTdr MeasurementSoil CharacterizationSoil PropertyAgricultural Water ManagementCrop Water RelationIrrigationWater QualitySoil Water ContentSoil Physical QualityField EvaluationTime‐domain ReflectrometryWater MonitoringCivil EngineeringWater ContentTdr Data Curves
TDR measurement offers flexible transmission line configurations suitable for various applications. The study deployed vertical and horizontal TDR transmission lines of varying lengths across three corn field sites, measuring soil water content periodically with a portable TDR tester. TDR measurements closely matched gravimetric samples (±0.02 m³ m⁻³ at the same location, ±0.06 m³ m⁻³ otherwise), were highly repeatable, and all line types produced equivalent values, with horizontal lines yielding the lowest standard error, though impedance‑discontinuous lines required more complex analysis.
Abstract For measurement of water content using TDR, parallel wire transmission lines varying in length from 0.125 to 1 m were installed vertically at planting time at three sites in a corn field. At one of the sites horizontal lines and additional vertical transmission lines with electrical impedance discontinuities were installed for comparison. Measurements of water content using a portable TDR cable tester were made periodically during the growing season. Comparisons of water contents by TDR with those from gravimetric samples showed that generally both were the same values. Standard deviations of differences between TDR and gravimetric values were ± 0.02 m 3 m −3 when measured locations were the same but increased to ± 0.06 m 3 m −3 when measured locations were different. Repeated measurements at the same location were highly correlated, one with another, over the season. Analysis of variance showed that all transmission line types were yielding equivalent values and that the horizontal transmission lines gave the minimum standard error of the mean. Data from transmission lines with impedance discontinuities gave water content profiles from a single measurement but the analyses of the TDR data curves were more complex than for the lines without impedance discontinuities. The variety of transmission line configurations for use in TDR measurement allows considerable flexibility of choice in relation to one's application.