Trase system 1

[owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za]

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[Dear Sowacsers, I thought I would cross post this from IR-L (with a few
replies below)
Bruce]

I'm doing my thesis (doctor course) in Brazil working with furrows. I
intend to study the superficial and sub-superficial water movement in soil
with a clay pan at 30 - 40cm. In order to observe the sub-superficial water
movement, I intend to monitor the moisture from the beginning of the water
application on the furrow, until the stabilization of the moisture. For
this purpose, I'm going to use the  "TRASE SYSTEM 1", that is an equipment
that determine the soil moisture soil by the difference of speed with that
an electro-magnetic pulse of energy travels down a parallel transmission
line (guide) buried in the soil. The time is determined by t=(Ka**1/2*L)/c,
where c is the speed of light in centimeters per nanosecond, L is the
length of the guides and Ka is the apparent dielectric constant. The
dieletric constants for air, mineral particles of the soil and water is
respectively 1, 2-4 and 80. So, measuring the travelling speed of a
microwave pulse through the guide it's possible to know the Ka value and,
in consequence, the moisture of the soil.
        I intend to use three furrows (three repliccations) and to install
guides
at three depths, 1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 of the depth of "A" horizon (over the
clay pan) along the furrow, at each 28.7m, totalizing 72 points 
        I'd like to know if someone could give me some help in this matter,
mainly
if has been working with this equipment in this situation; or if somebody
has been doing this kind of monitor of soil moisture with the same  aim,
using another kind of equipment.
        I'd be very thankfull if someone could give me any kind of help.
Thanks in
advance.

Prof. Alvaro Rota 

Prof. Alvaro Moreira Rota
Faculdade de Engenharia AgrĖcola
Universidade Federal de Pelotas
Rua Cidade de Švora, 26
Recanto de Portugal
CEP 96.083-100
Pelotas-RS
Brasil
Fone 0055-532-2788562

--------------------------------
Dear Alvaro,

get in touch with Henoque Ribeiro (henoque@cnph.embrapa.br). He did his PhD
work with furrow irrigation by using a Tektronix TDR to monitor soil-water
content.
Regards,
Camilo de Lelis Teixeira de Andrade
Embrapa Milho e Sorgo
Caixa Postal 151
35701-970 - Sete Lagoas, MG
Brasil
Tel. 0 XX 31 779 1235
Fax 0 XX 31 779 1088
--------------------------------
Dear Alvaro Moreira Rota:

For your work in Brazil you might consider using the Moisture Point
system made by ESI Environmental Sensors Inc. of Victoria, BC, Canada.
Six years ago I was involved in doing a market survey for this system
with its unique profiling probe. Both Tectronix and Trase instruments
were used as tools in the development of Moisture Point and later
supplanted by it. For details see www.esica.com

Yours truly,

Clem Wehner

                                C. Wehner & Associates
                                Marketing Consultants International
                                402-270 Russell Street
                                Victoria, BC, Canada V9A 3X2
                                Ph/Fax: 250-383-1959
                                cww@pacificcoast.net
--------------------------------