SOIL WATER MEASUREMENTS

Soil water content and moisture represent the amount of water within the pore space. Factors
such as soil structure, texture and organic matter content affect the soil's ability to hold and drain
water

Importance of measuring soil water content

 Calculate irrigation requirements

1. Gravimetric method

The weight method provides a direct measurement of soil water mass content. It is advisable to
perform the assessment under adequate and representative soil moisture conditions (i.e. Outside
periods of extreme drought or rainfall)

Procedure

i. Obtain a soil sample at a selected depth using the trowel/spade/auger. Place the soil
sample in a zipper bag, close it hermetically, and label with location, date, depth and a
unique number for each bag. Be sure the bags are completely dry before starting
ii. Position the drying container on the weighing scale. Place fresh soil on the plate (around
50 g soil) and record the exact moist weight, together with the date, time, depth and
sample number in your notebook.
iii. Dry the soil until weight stabilizes. This can be done: (a) by oven-drying for 24-48 hours
at 105 C; (b) with a microwave (heating repeatedly for 5 minutes at 50% power, using
paper containers) until constant weight is achieved (20-25 minutes in total depending on
soil type and moisture); (c) by air-drying for about a week.
iv. After drying, weigh the containers with soil to obtain the dry weight and proceed to
calculate soil water content
 v. Calculate the soil water content using this formula: Water content % = (weight of moist
soil (g) – weight of dry soil (g)) / weight of dry soil (g) * 100

Advantages of this method

The method is easy to perform and does not require much technical knowledge. It provides direct
measurements of water content and allows to estimate available water (soil moisture).

Limitations of this method

Some equipment like oven dryers can be expensive, but the drying of the soil could be done by
allowing the samples to air-dry for a period of 7 days. A weighing scale is needed for this
method.

2. Tensiometers

A tensiometer is a device for measuring soil water tension. It consists of a cylindrical pipe
about one inch in diameter with a porous ceramic cup attached to one end and a vacuum

gauge attached to the other.

Why Use Tensiometers?

Tensiometers indirectly measure soil moisture tension. Since tensiometers are installed for
the entire season or longer, they provide readings at the same location over an extended
period of time. Tensiometer readings are easily interpreted and indicate the soil water
conditions experienced by the plants’ roots. Soil salinity does not affect the readings.
Although tensiometers are used most frequently for monitoring soil moisture, they can also
be incorporated into automated irrigation systems. Gauges with solenoids can be used to
control an irrigation system, and tensiometers equipped with transducers can be used with
computerized irrigation systems.

Installation

To measure soil water tension, the end of the tensiometer with the porous cup is inserted
through a pilot hole in the soil, which has been made with a soil probe. (The porous cup
should be soaked in water for several hours before installation.) After installation the
tensiometer is filled with water and allowed to equilibrate with the soil water for about
twenty-four hours. Tensiometers should be installed in the zone of greatest root density, at
about one-quarter to one-third of the maximum root depth. A tensiometer at this depth can be
used to schedule irrigations. Table 1 gives tensiometer reading guidelines for various crops.
Irrigation should take place when tensiometer readings rise above those listed in the table.
Refinements based on soil sampling will be required to adjust for site-specific conditions.

It is recommended that a tensiometer also be installed near the bottom of the root depth to
assure that the moisture extends to an adequate depth. If the tensiometer reading at the lower
root depth remains unchanged following an irrigation or continues to rise during the growing
season, irrigation applications may be insufficient.

The number of stations required depends on the irrigation system and on soil uniformity and
management. For areas up to forty acres, at least two stations should be established. Stations
should be located in areas representative of overall moisture status, with separate stations for
problem areas or for areas having different soil conditions. Areas with different crops should
be monitored separately, since water use and root growth differ from crop to crop.

What Do the Readings Mean?

In an unsaturated soil, soil water tension—frequently called the “suction” — falls below
atmospheric pressure. As wet soil dries, the soil-water suction increases, causing water to
flow out of the tensiometer through the porous cup. The small pores of the saturated cup
prevent air from entering the tensiometer. This outflow of water creates a vacuum inside the
 tensiometer and increases the reading on the vacuum gauge. If the soil is rewetted by
irrigation, water will be drawn back into the tensiometer, reducing the vacuum inside, and the
reading on the gauge will decrease. The vacuum gauge measures the suction in centibars,
with a range of 0 to 100. A reading of zero indicates a saturated soil in which plant roots will
suffer from poor aeration. A reading of 10 to 25 centibars reflects a soil at field capacity. The
lower reading is for sandy soils at field capacity, and the higher reading is for finer-textured
soils. Readings of 70 to 80 indicate a dry soil. Tensiometers will not read above 85 centibars.

Maintenance

Tensiometers must be properly maintained. This requires periodically filling the pipe with water
and replacing porous cups. If the soil becomes too dry (tensiometer readings greater than 85
centibars), the porous cup will break tension and air will enter the tensiometer. A cracked cup
will prevent a vacuum from developing in the tensiometer and cause the instrument to always
read zero. The porous cup of a tensiometer filled with water should not be exposed to the
atmosphere for long periods of time. Such exposure causes evaporation of water from the cup’s
surface, which in turn causes salt buildup and clogging of the cup.

3. Resistance blocks

A soil moisture block, often referred to as a gypsum block or electrical resistance block, is a
device for measuring soil moisture changes. The soil moisture block consists of two electrodes
mounted in a small block of porous material. Wires are attached to the electrodes. The sensor is
buried in the soil at the depth to be monitored and the wires extend to the soil surface.

Once installed, the block’s moisture content comes into equilibrium with the surrounding soil
moisture. A meter is attached to the wires at the surface and an AC current is passed through the
block. The electrical resistance measured by the meter is related to the soil moisture surrounding
the soil moisture block. The wetter the soil (and the block), the less resistance to the passage of
the current. The soil moisture block therefore indirectly monitors soil moisture by measuring
electrical resistance.

Most soil moisture blocks are not as sensitive as tensiometers in wetter soils and may not be
appropriate for use with drip irrigation systems where soil moisture is kept high by frequent
irrigations. Soil moisture blocks will provide information on a broader range of soil moisture
levels than a tensiometer. This may be important for heavier textured soils (loams and clay
loams) that are irrigated less frequently.

Installation

The number of stations required depends on soil uniformity and management. For areas up to 40
acres, at least two stations should be established. Stations should be in areas representative of
overall soil moisture conditions, with separate stations established for problem areas or for areas
with different soil conditions. Areas with different crops should be monitored separately since
water use and root growth differ from crop to crop.

At least one soil moisture block should be installed in the zone of greatest root activity at
approximately one-quarter to one-third of the root depth. A moisture block at this depth should
be monitored for scheduling irrigations. It is also recommended that an additional block be
installed in the bottom one-third of the root zone. This block will indicate when deep soil
moisture is being depleted. If the block reading at the lower depth remains unchanged following
an irrigation or continues to indicate that the soil is getting drier during the season, irrigation
applications may be insufficient. Private consultants using gypsum blocks for irrigation
scheduling often install blocks at one-foot increments within the root zone.

Soil moisture blocks are installed by augering a hole to a depth slightly greater than the desired
monitoring depth. A small quantity of a fine mixture of soil and gypsum is added to the bottom
of the hole to provide good contact between the soil and the block. A small amount of water is
added to the hole to soften the soil at the bottom. Before being placed, the block is immersed in
water and checked with the meter to ensure that a reading can be obtained. The wire lead from
the block is run through a length of pipe (1/2" CLASS 125 PVC) with a slight tension maintained
on the wire so that the block will be held to the end of the pipe. The block can then be pushed
into the moist soil at the bottom of the hole. After the block is inserted, the pipe is carefully
removed and the hole is backfilled, first with a mixture of gypsum and soil and then with the soil
removed from the hole. Care should be taken to not damage the wire leads and to ensure that the
backfilled soil is well packed into hole. (A broom handle works well for this purpose). Block
depth should be identified with a surface tag or knots in the wire. Blocks to be placed at
shallower depths can be installed in the same hole or in a separate hole, using the same
procedure.

What Do the Readings Mean?

Soil moisture blocks indicate when soil moisture is being depleted and the depth to which
irrigation water is penetrating, but they do not reveal how much soil moisture needs to be
replaced unless they are calibrated to the site.

Maintenance

Soil moisture blocks are relatively maintenance-free. The life of a moisture block is one to three
years, depending on soil moisture conditions. Constantly wet soil will cause a gypsum block to
dissolve more quickly and thereby shorten its life. Longer life can be expected for moisture
blocks made of porous materials that do not dissolve. The wire leads may corrode and require
periodic scraping to ensure good contact between the wire and the meter.