Measurement of Soil Water Content in a Peat-Vermiculite Medium Using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR): A Laboratory and Field Evaluation

Abstract

In Quebec, Canada, the estimation of soil water requirements in container tree seedling production is generally based on a qualitative approach. However, recently the development of large seedling cultivation and the use of air-slit containers have made nursery irrigation more complex. In order to improve irrigation management ice evaluated the use of time domain reflectometry (TDR) equipment to measure the volumetric content of substrates. Trials carried out show that this type of equipment can be used to measure substrate water content in real tune. Comparison with measures of soil water content determined gravimetrically corn firms that measurements obtained by TDR are very precise. Tree Planters' Notes 47(3): 88-93; 1996. More than 115 million shippable container tree seedlings are produced annually in the various private and public