Re: Soil Moisture Meter for compost piles required

[Bill Pogue <irrometer@aol.com>]

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I have talked to several "composters" who have used tensiometers to monitor 
the soil water status in their compost piles.  Several years ago, National 
Geographic had a focus issue on the soil and on the cover showed a person 
inserting an Irrometer into the compost material.  I am no expert on the soil 
water holding capacity of composted material--I suppose it varies widely--but 
it would seem to me that the requirement would be to keep it near to field 
capacity.  Further, due to the potential coarse structure of the compost it 
could have a limited capacity to store water.  Thus the use of a tensiometer 
might be appropriate since this instrument is most effective in the wet end 
of the soil water range.  Our company has both a regular tensiometer (0-100 
kPa range) as well as a "low tension" type (0-60 kPa range) which cost in the 
$60-$90 (USD Ex-Works) range here in the U.S.  Maintaining the instrument air 
free for sensitivity and accuracy is accomplished by means of our "Service 
Unit" which costs about $36.00--and this would be important if one were using 
it to "probe" various areas of a compost pile and various depths to assess 
soil water status.  So, at a modest cost, this instrument could likely be 
easily adapted to such a task with user experience in so adapting it.  Feel 
free to contact me directly if specifc sourcing information is desired.
Regards, Bill Pogue, Irrometer Company, Inc. 
Riverside, CA USA
irrometer@aol.com


In a message dated 12/8/99 9:15:38 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za writes:

<< Subj:     Soil Moisture Meter for compost piles required
 Date:  12/8/99 9:15:38 PM Pacific Standard Time
 From:  owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za
 Sender:    owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za
 
 I have searched Sowacs.com for a moisture meter that I can use to test
 moisture content in my compost piles.  I want to introduce earthworms
 and need this info.  Can you put me on to a source.  This is not a
 commercial operation just a back yard project.
 
                                        Thanks
 
                                           Ray >>