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NOTE: To get off this list, send email to majordomo@aqua.ccwr.ac.za with the body of the message containing the line: unsubscribe sowacs Skewes, Mark (PIRSA) writes: ===8<============== Trevor, There are Gophers being used commercially in the Riverland of South Australia, in sandy soils (overcoming the installation issues), and with very good local support (from a grower who took the time to sort out the issues and now offers his expertise on a fee for service basis to other growers). I haven't come across Gophers in other areas in South Australia. The Diviner is more widespread in SA. Regards, Mark Skewes -----Original Message----- From: owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za [mailto:owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za] Sent: Monday, 18 March 2002 16:40 Subject: Soil moisture measuring equipment Trevor Finch writes: ===8<============== I would agree with Mark Skewes that the key criteria for soil moisture sensors in commercial scheduling are stability (repeatability), and robustness. The capacitance probes do have problems in clays that develop cracks at the surface (as in much of the cotton in northern NSW, and Queensland, Australia), and in profiles with large stones or rocks (e.g. New Zealand's gravels). The only Gopher's used for commercial scheduling in Australia that I know about are used on potatoes in northern Tasmania. Are there any others ? Another alternative is the Delta-T Profile Probe, which has 4 (or 6) sensors. It as quick to read as a Diviner, at about 1.2m long is easier to carry, but can only do 4 (or 6) depths. Profile probe's have now been used in the UK for 2 seasons, and the growers seem to be satisfied with the data. They are also in use in South Africa. But support by a competent local agent is probably the most important criteria. > >We are about to purchase some equipment for measuring soil moisture. This >is for irrigation scheduling. The options that I am considering are the >Gopher (dielectric constant)and the Diviner 2000 (capacitance). > >If possible, I would like an/some opinions on which is the most accurate, >robust and cost effective of the options. >===8<=========== > >[Bruce comments >Ken I have left your email address off so that all replies come back >through this forum. > >Anonymous comments will be posted, but preferably be bold enough to put >your name under comments! >Bruce] > > > regards... ------------ Trevor Finch Research Services New England 8/16 Nicholson Street Balmain, NSW 2041 Australia T: +61 (2) 9810 3563 F: +61 (2) 9810 3323 mailto:support@rsne.com.au http://www.rsne.com.au -------------------------- ===8<=========== ===8<===========