Soil moisture content is a key factor in healthy crop development, because of the close relationship within the soil\u2013plant\u2013atmosphere system. Water makes up 75\u201385% of plant tissue<\/strong> and is essential for all vital processes. The potential difference between leaf and atmosphere makes the plant lose water: this is transpiration. Soil anchors the plant and stores water, air and nutrients, depending on its physical properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Physical analysis of a uniform soil sample in the lab gives accurate results for irrigation scheduling. The other main methods are three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The direct reference method: a soil sample is taken, weighed before and after drying, and its moisture content is calculated. It cannot be used for continuous monitoring and requires several types of sampling equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A porous block of gypsum, nylon or fiberglass with two electrodes reaches moisture balance with the soil and records its changes. It measures a single point, only the soil around the sensor, and is sensitive to salinity, soil type and sensor movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Measures the amount of water per unit volume of soil. Neutrons lose energy, and therefore speed, when they collide with light atoms such as the hydrogen in water. Counting the slowed neutrons gives the water content. The measurement is area-wide, continuous and contactless<\/strong>, and gives very useful information for irrigation management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why soil moisture monitoring matters in agriculture Soil moisture content is a key factor in healthy crop development, because of the close relationship within the soil\u2013plant\u2013atmosphere system. Water makes up 75\u201385% of plant tissue and is essential for all vital processes. The potential difference between leaf and atmosphere makes the plant lose water: this is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","factsheet-category":[27],"class_list":["post-822","resources-factsheet","type-resources-factsheet","status-publish","hentry","factsheet-category-agriculture"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKey figures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Indicator<\/th> Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Water in plant tissue<\/td> 75\u201385%<\/td><\/tr> Tension at field capacity (FC)<\/td> 1\/3 atm<\/td><\/tr> Tension at permanent wilting point (PWP)<\/td> 15 atm<\/td><\/tr> Available water capacity (AWC)<\/td> FC \u2212 PWP<\/td><\/tr> Available water by soil texture<\/td> from 1.0 (coarse sand) to 6.2 cm (clay soils) per 30 cm of soil<\/td><\/tr> Wilting point relative to field capacity<\/td> PWP = FC \u00d7 0.595<\/td><\/tr> Bulk density unit<\/td> g\/cm\u00b3<\/td><\/tr> Measurement methods compared<\/td> 3: gravimetric (reference), electrical resistance (point), neutron (area-wide)<\/td><\/tr> Neutron measurement features<\/td> Area-wide \u00b7 continuous \u00b7 contactless<\/td><\/tr> Benefits of continuous monitoring<\/td> 6: available water, correct irrigation, roots, nutrients, germination, weeds<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Soil hydraulic parameters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Available water by soil texture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Soil texture class<\/th> cm of water per 30 cm of soil depth<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Coarse sand<\/td> 1.0 \u2013 2.0<\/td><\/tr> Sand and loamy sand<\/td> 2.0 \u2013 4.0<\/td><\/tr> Silt loam and loam<\/td> 4.0 \u2013 5.5<\/td><\/tr> Clay loam, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam<\/td> 4.5 \u2013 6.2<\/td><\/tr> Sandy clay, silty clay and clay<\/td> 4.0 \u2013 6.2<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Soil moisture measurement methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gravimetric method<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Electrical resistance method<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Neutron method<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Benefits of continuous monitoring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Finapp impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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