Soil Science Instrumentation

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Salinity and Temperature

Soil Salinity Measurement
Soil Salinity Sensor	Soil salinity sensors are ideal for efficient in-situ field monitoring of soil salinity with minimal disturbance to the soil profile.
Soil Salinity Sensor Hand Held Meter	The 5000M Salinity Meter manufactured by ICT International offers scientists and environmental managers a highly accurate, low cost, plug and play solution to measure salinity in the field.
Soil Temperature Measurement
TT4 Smart Thermocouple Interface	The TT4 is a digital interface to allow connection of thermocouple temperature sensors to the SL5 SmartLogger.

Soil Tension and Suction

Tensiometers
Jet Fill	The Model 2725 Jet Fill Tensiometer features the patented Jet Fill reservoir for push-button convenience and minimization of soil disturbance when servicing is required.
2100F Micro Tensiometer and Soil Column Tensiometer	The Model 2100F soil moisture probe is a specialised unit designed for investigation of soil suction in small regimes such as near the soil surface, or for laboratory work such as measuring soil suction values at various levels in soil columns.
2100F Tensiometer Accessories	Accessories available for the 2100F soil moisture probe
Quick Draw	The Model 2900F1 Quick Draw Tensiometer is designed for portable field use. It responds quickly and equilibrates rapidly with the tension in the soil, providing measurements within a few minutes.
Transducer Tensiometers and Logging Tensiometers
Transducers 0 to 100 kPa (GT3-15)	The vacuum inside the tensiometer is measured by a pressure transducer, which gives a continuous analogue output signal. A resolution of 0.1 kPa (1 cm H₂O) can be attained for the GT3 Tensiometer Transducer.
Transducers 0 to 7 kPa (GT3-1)
Transducers -100 to 200 kPa (GT3-30)
Transducer interfaces (General Notes)
GT3-420 Transducer 0-100 kPa	The GT3-420 has an industry-standard 4 to 20mA current loop output that can be used to interface it to a wide variety of standard devices including programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and data loggers.
Gypsum Blocks	Gypsum Blocks or G-Blocks are an evolution in design. They provide quick response and true sensitivity to conditions where moisture remains relatively high.
Watermark Smart Interface	The Watermark sensor is an indirect method of measuring soil water. It is an electrical resistance type sensor, that converts the electrical resistance reading to a calibrated reading of centibars of soil water suction.
Thermal Matric Potential Sensor (CS229)	The CS229 thermal matric sensor is used to measure the soil matric potential in dry to very dry soils. Typical applications of this sensor are in the area of store release cover hydrology monitoring in mine and landfill closure and research on desert vegetation and hydrology.

Soil Moisture

Capacitance Soil Moisture Probes
ECH₂O EC-5 Soil Moisture Sensors	ECH₂O is a capacitance probe that measures dielectric permittivity of the surrounding medium. In soil, dielectric permittivity is directly related to the water content. The ECH₂O probe outputs a voltage proportional to the dielectric permittivity, and therefore the water content of the soil.
ECH₂O EC-20 Soil Moisture Sensors	A low-cost sensor for measuring volumetric water content of soil. The ECH₂O is a capacitance probe that measures dielectric permittivity, which is directly related to soil moisture. Available with voltage output or 4-20mA options.
Advanced Logger System Em50	The Em50 is a 5-channel, self-contained data recorder designed for use with any ECH2O sensor. The sensors are plugged into the 5 channels and measured as directed by the user. Housed in a weatherproof enclosure with an O-ring seal, the Em50 is ideal for long-term outdoor use. With minimal battery usage, the Em50 can take readings as often as once per minute for over a year.
ProCheck hand-held readout device	The hand-held ProCheck gives you a read-out and stores reading from any of Decagon's soil moisture or environmental sensors.
ECH₂O Check Display Meter	Portable monitoring of your low-cost ECH₂O probes has never been easier. Simply plug the connector from the probe into the ECH₂O Check and push the button to get an instant reading of soil moisture.
Aquaterr M-300 Soil Moisture Meter	Aquaterr Soil Moisture Meter. These are designed to closely track the "hand feel" method, using a radio-frequency capacitance sensor. A direct readout of % soil moisture saturation is given.
Aquaterr T-300 Temperature and Soil Moisture Meter
Aquaterr EC-300 Salinity, Temperature and Soil Moisture Meter
Standing Wave Soil Moisture Probes
MP406 Sensors	The MP406 can be used to measure the soil moisture for scientific research or irrigation management. The MP406 Moisture Probe can also be used to measure the moisture content in many materials such as soil, food and materials used in roadway and building construction.
MP406 Interfaces
MP406 4-20mA Output for Irrigation Control
MPKit	Complete self-contained soil moisture probe and meter in a portable kit.
See Also: MP406 Power Use Calculations for Sensor and Interfaces
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Soil Moisture Measurement
Mini-TRASE	The MiniTrase retains all of the superior capabilities that made our Trase System 1 a valued instrument, but now features: significantly reduced weight, size and cost. MiniTrase provides the largest signal pulse of any standard commercial TDR instrumentation used in soils or dielectric measurements.
TRASE System 1	Trase is the only self-contained TDR instrument capable of investigating and monitoring not only soils, but a wide variety of other materials as well. It is fully field portable, and when you need to leave it at a remote site for several days or weeks, it can be accessed from home or office.
Waveguides
Neutron Probe Soil Moisture Meters
503DR Neutron Probe	CPN 503DR-1.5 Neutron Probe sets the standard for soil moisture measurement for both scientific research and irrigation scheduling. Readings of soil water content recorded in the Neutron Probe are automatically uploaded to computer for review and analysis. See also: Neutron Probe repair service Radiation safety training Neutron Probe disposal service
NPro Irrigation Scheduling Software
503DR Neutron Probe Irrigation Scheduling Package
MC3 Series Surface Moisture & Density Probe	Nuclear density gauges are the most effective non-destructive testing method for asphalt paving materials. Conventional density test methods require collection of core samples, which are time consuming and require repair of the pavement. Accurate nuclear gauge density measurements take one-minute and are accepted by all State and Federal highway agencies.
Radiation Survey Meter - model Monitor 4 RSM	The CPN Monitor 4 Gamma Radiation Survey meter is a low-cost all purpose gamma detector to assess the dose rates in proximity to portable density/moisture gauges.

Soil Water Potential

Pressure Plate Extractor Systems
Pressure Plate Extractor Components	Pressure Extractors are used in determining the water-holding characteristics of soil samples. Wetted soil samples are placed in the extractor, and a known pressure is applied, which forces the removal of any water held to the soil at a lower pressure. By analyzing the sample at several different pressures, the characteristic pressure versus water content relationship can be determined for the soil.
Lab Setup 02G#
Lab Setup 023G#
Lab Setup 52
Lab Setup 523
Vacuum Manifold
Compressor	0505V compressor replaces older 0500FG model
Porous Ceramic Plates & Cups
Porous Ceramic Plates	These pressure plate cells have been the de-facto standard for the measurement of soil moisture retention studies worldwide.
Porous Ceramic Cups	The unique characteristics and quality of our porous ceramics allow them to be used in a variety of applications. The natural wetting abilities of a porous ceramic, the uniform pore sizing, and inert raw materials provide an excellent finished product for research or industrial applications.
Porous Ceramics Custom Sizes	Each specialty area of our ceramics product line represents the finest quality products available to you as a consumer. Many of the items are used in the fabrication of our quality field and research laboratory equipment.
Custom Ceramics Order Form
Properties of Porous Ceramics
Soil Water Potential Measurement
WP4 Water Potential Meter	The WP4 and WP4-T give water potential readings directly in Megapascals within 5 minutes. It directly measures water potential from 0 to -60 MPa with excellent accuracy. The instrument is easy to use and maintain, and calibration is simple.
Soil Water Samplers (Lysimeters)
1900 Soil Water Samplers	The Model 1900 Soil Water Sampler is a large-volume sampler designed for near-surface installation at depths ranging from 15 cm (6") to 1.8 m (6'). The unit consists of a 4.8 cm (1.9") outside diameter PVC tube, a porous ceramic cup with a 200 kPa (2 bar) air-entry value, and a Santoprene stopper.
1905 Slim Tube Soil Water Samplers	The 1905 Slim Tube Soil Water Sampler is a small-diameter sampler designed for taking small-volume samples or for use where installation space is limited.
Related information	What is a Lysimeter? Why should I use a Lysimeter?
Permeameters & Infiltrometers
Guelph Permeameter	A fast, accurate, easy to use instrument to measure in-situ hydraulic conductivity.
Tension Infiltrometer	Tension infiltrometers are designed to measure the unsaturated hydraulic properties of soils. Water is allowed to infiltrate soil at a rate which is slower than when water is ponded on the soil surface. This is accomplished by maintaining a small negative pressure on the water as it is infiltrating into the soil.
Drain Gauge
Drain Gauge	The Gee passive capillary lysimeter (Drain Gauge) is much smaller than comparable instruments, and its cost allows for more measurement sites over a large range of locations for the monitoring of deep drainage.
Drain Gauge Interface

Penetrometers, Augers and Samplers

Soil Penetrometers
Rimik CP40II Penetrometer with built-in GPS	Penetrometer measures the resistance to penetration in soil. The instrument consists of a data logger, load cell, a cone attached to a shaft and GPS. The data logger records the cone index value of the load required for insertion of the cone through the soil as well as time, date and GPS coordinates.
Soil Samplers & Augers
ICT Soil Samplers	The Model 0200 Soil Bulk Density Sampler allows the extraction of intact soil cores. A core 57mm (2.25") in diameter is extracted and held in a brass cylinder. The cylinder and soil sample can then be placed in a pressure plate extractor or Tempe Cell apparatus, and the water-holding characteristics of the sample can be determined.
Soil Augers	Specifically designed to auger a tight fitting hole when installing 50 mm outside diameter aluminium access tubing used with the Neutron Probe. Set includes a spiral auger for clay soils, a shell auger for sandy or dry clay soils, extension and T-handle. Holes can be augered for 2 m aluminium tubes.

Thermal Properties

Thermal Properties Analyser
KD2 and KD2 Pro	The pocket-sized KD2 thermal properties analyzer uses a single sensor to measure thermal conductivity and thermal resistivity. It uses a simple yet precise heating and monitoring system to measure the slope and intercept of the sample specific temperature rise vs. time curve. The KD2 uses this data to calculate and display thermal conductivity in 90 seconds.

Soil Moisture Equipment Corporation

Soil Moisture Equipment Corporation (SEC) Catalogues
SEC Product Catalogue (PDF)		Download 2.4M PDF
SEC Ceramics Catalogue (PDF)		Download 1.2M PDF