Re: Soil Moisture Measurement in Shallow Saline Soil

[Kevin O'Connor <kevin@geotdr.com>]

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Mark,

You should consider the MoisturePoint probe manufactured by ESI
Environmental Sensors.  The active switching diodes incorporared into the
TDR probe reduces the problem with attenuation in saline soils.  They have
also being working on coatings for use in saline soils.  

You can get more info at http://www.esica.com

You should also contact:
Mr. Mike Sly
ESI Environmental Sensors, Inc.
100-4243 Glanford Ave.
Victoria, BC   V8Z 4B9
CANADA
(800)799-6324  (250) 479-6588
(250)479-1412 fax
msly@esica.com

Sincerely,
Kevin O'Connor







At 10:15 AM 9/27/99 GMT, you wrote:
>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
>
>Dear List Members,
>
>I have received a request from a client for information about appropriate
>soil moisture sensors for a shallow, saline soil.  The soil is not only
>extremely shallow (10cm in places), but is underlain by Class II carbonate,
>otherwise known as sheet calcrete (solid rock).  As a result, installation
>and operation of neutron probes is extremely problematic.
>
>I had recommended that TDR sensors would be appropriate, based on
>information on the SOWACS web page that TDR are unaffected by salinity.
>This has been contradicted, however, by a third party, who is also an
>independent source like myself, so I have no reason to doubt his sincerity.
>
>Consequently, I am confused, and also at a loss to help my client.  I am
>quite possibly opening a can of worms, but I am sure that others out there
>have had the same problem.  Please offer your opinions, preferably with
>supporting evidence, on both the sensitivity of TDR to salinity, and
>alternative devices to overcome my problem.
>
>I will be away for the next week, but I hope to return to a full e-mail
>basket.  Thanks in advance for your participation in this discussion.
>
>Mark Skewes
>Senior Water Management Consultant
>Irrigated Crop Management Service
>Primary Industries and Resources SA
>Ph. 08 8595 9149
>Fax 08 8595 9180
>E-mail skewes.mark@saugov.sa.gov.au
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Kevin O'Connor, Ph.D.	(612) 431-3415 voice
GeoTDR, Inc.		(612) 892-0241 fax
297 Pinewood Drive	kevin@geotdr.com
Apple Valley, MN  55124	http://www.geotdr.com

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