Setting NP tubes

[Tom Reynolds <tomrinaz@earthlink.net>]

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E.Ray Bigler, my mentor, of Ag-Scientific (Mesa, AZ), perfected many 
aspects of neutron probe usage, not the least of them solving the air 
gap problem.  We used 2" electrical conduit (zinc-coated) and 2" 
chainlink fence dome caps.  We used a JM manufacturing soil auger for 
the perfect over-sized boring.  Then we (when dry was available) sifted 
topsoil from the area through a very fine soil sieve.  Then we slowly 
poured the sifted soil along side the tube, rattling a t-handle (tool of 
various configuations, even a hammer will do)  inside the tube, to get 
the soil to work it's way down the gap.  Usually, we got so much soil to 
slip down, that we felt quite confident that we'd filled most, if not 
all of it.  Remember to drop a 1" piece of 1" hose down the tube, so if 
you lose your gripe on the probe electronics, it doesn't get hopelessly 
stuck in the bottom of the

Hat's off to Ray for his genius and perserverence.  By the way, he's 
been successfully monitoring (cotton, wheat) fields in Maricopa County 
since 1978.  Hurray for Ray !

Tom Reynolds CID
Water Balance
Mesa, AZ  85203
tomrinaz@earthlink.net