Re: The TDR Debate

[Peter Broomhall]

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>
> For obvious reasons, the manaufacturers will not finance that sort of
work.
> Governments won't finance it - probably because there is no big 'pay off'
at
> the end of it. Consultants can't afford to do it from their own resources.
So
> it does not get done.
>

Comparisons have been done. They just don't get into publications. Some have
but many are marketing comparisons. For example, you buy a make of motor
car, after 2-3 years your are either satisfied or not, if not you try
another make. Sooner or later most of us come done to preference with one
make.

Same for soil moisture technology. How many researchers have tried all sorts
of devices? How many still use the same device? How many have found one (or
many) to be not what they expected and now store them away collecting dust?
They don't write this up in scientific publications but rather put it down
to lives experiences, share it with others and move on.

It would be interesting to have a survey of all researchers. In the
questionnaire the following is asked.

List the soil moisture technologies you have tried in the past?
List when you purchased the gear, how often you used it, and when you last
used it?
If you do not still use it, why?

This would be of great interest and may solve many future researchers having
to sieve through the salesman claims.

Regards

Peter Broomhall

[This looks like another area perfectly suited to being covered by sowacs.
Perhaps an on-line form for the collection of brief comparisons, while
fuller unpublished "papers" could simply be submitted as is for inclusion on
sowacs, anonymously is required.
I will therefore ask for some help from those willing to submit this
content, and for help with coding on-line form submission html.
Bruce]