CAGON CATALOG VOLUME 10 NUMBER 1
INNOVATIVE INSTRUMENTS FOR PLANTS, LIGHT, & SOIL
ENVIRONMENTAL
BIOPHYSICAL
INSTRUMENTATION
DECAGON DEVICES, INC.
Decagon Thermal
Properties Sensor on Mars
O
n Sunday, May 25, 2008 Decagon’s
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe
(TECP) arrived safely on Mars aboard the
Phoenix Lander. Phoenix is essentially a soil science
lab, built to study the history of water in the Martian
surface and subsurface. The TECP, designed and built
by Decagon research scientists, is mounted on
Phoenix’s digging arm and makes direct contact with
Martian regolith. It measures electrical conductivity,
dielectric permittivity, and thermal properties.
A Perfect Combination
The TECP project began when scientists at the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory saw the KD-2 soil thermal
properties analyzer at a trade show. They were
interested in adding thermal properties technology to
the suite of instruments aboard Phoenix, but
Decagon’s sensors weren’t ready for harsh Martian
conditions, and Decagon’s research science team
was hesitant to start a Martian project. “We’ve
always avoided government contracts in favor
of doing our own product development,” says
Dr. Colin Campbell, “but the guys at JPL
insisted that we were just the group of people
they were looking for—-a company that
combines a knowledge of fundamental soils
measurements with the ability to design and build
instrumentation.” In the end, the project was
irresistable.
Decagon’s Mark on Mars
Phoenix has spent the summer of 2008 gathering as
much data as possible. Decagon’s scientists have
X The image taken by the NASA Phoenix Mars
Lander’s Imager on July 14, 2008 shows TECP, a
fork-like probe inser ted into the Mar tian regolith
to measure electrical conductivity, dielectric
permittivity, and thermal properties.
D
D
DECAGON
DEVICES
2365 NE DECAGON
Hopkins Court
Pullman, Washington 99163
DEVICES
800-755-2751
fax 509-332-5158
[email protected]
www.decagon.com
International
1-509-332-2756
TABLE OF CONTENT
P
erhaps one day soon a paper catalog will be a
thing of the past. But there are still times when paper
Table of Contents
beats a screen—a few instances of things valuable enough
CANOPY
to deserve permanent posting on the wall or the side of the
file cabinet.
Leaf Porometer
Stomatal Conductance...................... 4
Our research scientists have a few of these gems in their
LP-80
Photosynthetically Active Radiation
& Leaf Area Index Ceptometer............ 6
offices and labs. These little scraps of pure wisdom, a kind
of hypertext for the mind, distill whole chapters of
Leaf Wetness Sensor........................ 8
knowledge into a simple model or table of equations.
We’ve shared these secret recipes in this year’s catalog
SOIL MOISTURE
along with the best of our instruments and sensors.
ECH 2O
Soil Water Content Sensors............. 10
Wireless System............................ 12
Environmental Sensors................... 14
We hope you'll find what you need to help you do great
research. As always, give us a call if we can help.
Continuous Monitoring.................... 15
Instantaneous Monitoring................ 15
Regards—
WATER POTENTIAL
Bryan Wacker
Matt Galloway
WP4 and WP4-T
Water Potential Measurement.......... 16
In Situ Water Potential Measurement 18
AquaSorp
Soil Moisture Characteristic Curves... 19
Lauren Bissey
T-Jay Clevenger
HYDROLOGY
Infiltrometer
Soil Hydraulic Conductivity.............. 20
DrainGauge
Passive Capillary Lysimeter.............. 21
THERMAL
KD2 and KD2 Pro
Thermal Properties Measurement..... 22
Distributors ....................... 26
Porometer Research for Everyone
GET HIGH QUALITY DATA
WITHOUT FANS, TUBES, PUMPS,
OR DESSICCANTS
B
steady state technology
(see details at right) makes accurate
stomatal conductance measurements
affordable and practical for everyday
research. Detail water use, indicate water
stress and compare physiological varieties.
Add stomatal stomatal conductance data to
any canopy study with this elegantly
designed Leaf Porometer.
REAKTHROUGH
Applications
Water Stress Measurements
Variety Testing & Comparison
Fundamental Research on Stomatal Function
Teaching and Student Labs
Benefits
Automatic sampling mode eliminates user subjectivity.
Accurate Steady-State measurement.
No subjective daily calibration needed.*
No tubes, pumps, fans or dessicant.
*Sensor Head requires annual calibration
Leaf Porometer Specifications
Conductance range
0 to 1000 mmol m -2 s -1
Accuracy 10%
Operating Environment
5 to 40ºC, 10 to 90% RH, non-condensing
Units mmol m -2 s -1, m 2s mol -1, s/m
Measurement aperture 6.3 mm
Sensor head cable length 1.2 m (4 ft.)
Measurement time in Auto mode 30 s
See the extended specifications for the
leaf porometer at www.decagon.com
MATHEMATICS OF THE STEADY STATE POROMETER
CVL
gVS
Leaf
R1
CV1
R2
Humidity
Sensors
CV2
Schematic illustrating how the
porometer measures stomatal
conductance.
Where CvL is the vapor concentration at
the leaf, Cv1 and Cv2 are the
concentrations at the two sensor
locations, Rvs is the stomatal resistance,
and Rv1 is the resistance between the leaf
and the first sensor, and R2 is the
resistance between the two sensors. If
the temperatures of the two sensors are
the same, conductance can be replaced
with relative humidity, giving
1
Conductance is the reciprocal of
resistance, so gvs = 1/Rvs. CANOPY
D
ecagon’s Steady State
porometer measures stomatal
conductance using a sensor
head with a fixed diffusion path to
the leaf. It measures the vapor concentration
at two different locations in the diffusion
path. It computes vapor flux from the vapor
concentration measurements and the known
conductance of the diffusion path using
the following equation:
Canopy Measurements PAR / LAI
MEASURE BOTH PAR AND
LAI WITH ONE LIGHTWEIGHT,
STREAMLINED WAND
U
PAR DATA to estimate biomass
production without destroying the
crop (see details at right). Measure
photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)
and get leaf area index (LAI) values
simultaneously in real time. Store about
9000 data points manually by pressing a
button or automatically in unattended
sampling mode.
SE
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
EXTERNAL PAR SENSOR
2 meter cable with connector for direct connection to the ceptometer’s external
Photosynthetically
port. Calibrated to provide an output of about 0.1 mV per μmol m -2 s -1
(calibration
label provided). & Leaf
Active Radiation
1/4 x 20 threaded insert for mounting; domed top.
Area Index
RS-232 CABLE— for interfacing between your computer and the
AccuPAR.
CARRYING CASE
Polyethylene hardened case. Foam cutouts allow the instrument and its
accessories to be safely stored inside.
3.6 kg, 11.8 x 24 x 109 cm.
AccuPAR LP-80 SPECIFICATIONS
Operating environment
0° to 50°C (32°-122°F),
0 to 100% relative humidity
Probe length 86.5 cm
Number of sensors 80
Overall length 102 cm (40.25 in)
Microcontroller dimensions
15.8 x 9.5 x 3.3 cm (6.2 x 3.75 x 1.3 in)
PAR range 0 to >2,500 μmol m -2s -1
Resolution 1 μmol m -2s -1
Minimum spatial resolution 1 cm
Data storage capacity 1MB RAM, 9000 readings
Unattended logging interval
User selectable, between 1 and 60 minutes
Instrument weight 1.22 kg (2.7 lbs)
Data retrieval Direct via RS-232 cable
Power Four AA Alkaline cells.
External PAR sensor connector
Locking 3-pin circular connector (2 m cable)
Extension cable option 7.6 m (25 ft)
LIGHT INTERCEPTION AND BIOMASS PRODUCTION
Total Dry Matter (Mg/ha)
To learn more about the relationship between
light interception and biomass production, go to
“Applicaton Notes” at www.decagon.com/ag_research.
CANOPY
T
he conversion of light energy and
atmospheric carbon dioxide to plant
biomass is fundamentally important to
both agricultural and natural ecosystems.
The detailed biophysical and biochemical
processes by which this occurs are well
understood. At a less detailed level, though, it
is often useful to have a
simple model that can
25
be used to understand
20
and analyze parts of an
Sugar
Beets
ecosystem. Such a
15
model has been
Potatoes
provided by Monteith
10
Barley
(1977). He observed
Apples
5
that when biomass
accumulation by a
0
plant community is
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
Intercepted Solar Radiation (GJ/m2)
plotted as a function of
the accumulated solar
Figure 1: Total dry matter
radiation intercepted by the community, the
produced by a crop as a function
of total intercepted radiation
result is a straight line. Figure 1 shows
(from Monteith, 1977).
Monteith's results. Ready-to-Use Leaf Wetness Sensor
DETECT LEAF WETNESS
DURATION WITH A
SENSITIVE, CALIBRATED,
STANDARDIZED SENSOR
M
affect plants only
when moisture is present on
the leaf surface. The Dielectric
Leaf Wetness Sensor determines the
presence and duration of wetness on a
leaf’s surface, enabling researchers and
growers to forecast disease and protect
plant canopies. The Leaf Wetness Sensor
approximates the thermal mass and
radiative properties of leaves to closely
mimic the wetness state of a real leaf.
Because the sensor does not take resistancebased measurements, it requires no
painting or user calibration, and it can
detect ice formation as well.
ANY DISEASES
Leaf Wetness Sensor Specifications
Measurement time 10 ms
Power 2.5 VDC @ 10 mA to 5 VDC @ 7 mA
Output 250 to 1500 mV
Operating Environment -20 to 60°C
Expected Lifetime
2+ years continuous use
Probe Dimensions
11.2 x 5.8 x 0.075 cm (4.4 x 2.3 x 0.029 in)
Cable Length
5 m standard, extension cables available
Connector type 3.5 mm plug
Datalogger Compatibility (not exclusive)
Decagon Em50, Em50R
Campbell Scientific CR10, 10X, 21X, 23X, 1000, 3000, 5000
Applications
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a leaf
sensor that “responded” like a real
leaf?
or years, scientists have modified
commercial leaf wetness sensors to
improve their function. Circuit board sensors
detect wetness, but aren’t sensitive enough to
small moisture changes. So researchers have
painted them with latex paint.
Latex paint’s hygroscopic properties
make this fix a little too effective.
The painted boards are so sensitive to
moisture that 70% atmospheric
humidity starts to trigger false
positives. So some researchers bake
their sensors and use an intricate process to
calibrate them. Differences in the techniques
used to create an effective sensor have
resulted in a wide variation in data quality.
No painting or calibration needed.
This new leaf wetness sensor is standardized,
calibrated, and designed to be used right out
of the box. Its thin (0.65mm) fiberglass
construction closely approximate the heat
capacity and radiation balance of a healthy
leaf. The surface coating is not hygroscopic,
meaning that it won’t give a false positive. It
detects tiny amounts of water and ice on the
leaf surface, and each sensor has been
precisely calibrated before being shipped. The
sensors are ready to plug in and start reading
leaf wetness duration right out of the box. CANOPY
F
ACTS LIKE A LEAF
All sensor electrical interface: 3.5 mm plug or 3-wire.
MODEL
L E N GT H
High-frequency 70 MHz
Soil Water Content Sensors
MEASUREMENT
RANGE
ACCURACY
BENEFITS
± 3% VWC, typical
mineral soils up to 8 dS/m
Rockwool
± 3% VWC, 0.5 to 8 dS/m
EC-5
5 cm
Volumetric water
content
0–100% VWC
Potting Soil
± 3% VWC, 3 to 14 dS/m
Small volume of
influence for potted
plants, minimal
textural and EC effects
(ea): ± 0.5 from ea of 2 to 10
± 2.5 from ea of 10 to 50
± 3% VWC, typical
mineral soils up to 8 dS/m
10HS
10 cm
Dielectric permittivity,
Volumetric water
content
Apparent dielectric
permittivity ( e a ):
1 (air) to 50,
0–57% VWC
± 3% VWC, typical
mineral soils up to 8 dS/m
EC-TM
5 cm
Dielectric permittivity,
Volumetric water
content, Temperature
0–100% VWC
Temperature
-40 to 50 ºC
Rockwool
± 3% VWC, 0.5 to 8 dS/m
Potting Soil
± 3% VWC, 3 to 14 dS/m
(ea): ± 1 ea (unitless)
from 1–40 (soil range)
Apparent dielectric
permittivity ( e a ):
1 (air) to 80,
0–100% VWC
5TE
5 cm
± 15% from 40–80
Bulk EC ± 10%
-10 to -500 kPa
5 cm
5-point calibration,
minimal textural and
EC effects, output
independent of
excitation voltage
5-point calibration,
minimal textural and
EC effects, output
independent of
excitation voltage
Temperature ± 1 ºC
Volumetric water
content, Temperature,
Electrical conductivity
± 5 kPa from
-10 to -50 kPa
MPS-1
Approximately one liter
volume of influence,
minimal textural and
EC effects, output
independent of
excitation voltage
Soil matric potential
Contact Decagon to inquire about our soil specific calibration services.
± 20% of reading from
-50 to -500 kPa
No calibration needed,
minimal textural and
EC effects, in-situ
water potential,
no maintenance
Choose
Your
Sensors
IGHT YEARS AGO, Decagon had two soil
moisture sensors to choose from. Deciding which soil
moisture sensor was the right one was easy. Now there are so many
we can’t include them all in one catalog. The five newest sensors
incorporating Decagon’s latest technology are on the opposite page.
Below are tips on how to choose the best sensor for your
application.
What is your application?
Decagon sensors are designed to be
used in research requiring high
accuracy, consistency, and
repeatability. All the sensors shown on
page 10 are research-grade and are
designed to continuously monitor soil
moisture in-situ. Applications
requiring a small sample size (potted
plants, laboratory column studies,
etc.) should consider the sensors with
a length of 5 cm or less. Field
applications requiring a large sample
size should consider the sensors with
a minimum length of 10 cm.
Do you have site
limitations?
While none of the sensors are
sensitive to soil type, the top four
sensors to the left require good
sensor-to-soil contact for accurate
readings. For this reason, these
sensors may not be accurate in
shrink-swell clays or soil with high
gravel content. However, the MPS-1
sensor can be backfilled into augured
holes allowing it to easily and
accurately monitor water potential in
non-typical soils.
The ECHO system allows mixing and matching of sensors if you have budgetary constraints
Does your research require
monitoring other soil
variables?
All of the sensors on page 10 measure
soil moisture (the MPS-1 measures
water potential, not volumetric water
content). However, when research
requires other soil parameters to be
monitored, you may want to choose
the EC-TM or the 5TE, which measure
temperature or temperature and bulk
electrical conductivity, respectively, in
addition to soil moisture.
D
DECAGON
DEVICES
q SOILS
E
Not enough time to visit your sites?
t
) ) ) ) ) ) See your data in seconds ) ) )
using ECH2O wireless sensing.
Antenna
[ Em50R Logger—MEASUREMENT NODES
Channels 5.
Storage >36,000 scans Each scan includes logger name,
date, time, and 5 measurements
Scan Interval User-programmable from 1/minute to 1/day
Communication 900 MHz radio
Radio Logger
Power 5 AA alkaline batteries
Battery service life 6+ months
Dimensions 12.7 x 20.3 x 5.1 cm (5 x 8 x 2 in)
[ ECH 2O Wireless Monitoring System Specifications
5 cables
Temperature
Sensor
5TE Soil
Moisture
Sensor
Leaf Wetness Sensor
Rain Gauge
10HS Soil
Moisture Sensor
Available sensors EC-5, ECH 2 O-TE, EC-TM, EC-10, EC20, MPS-1 water potential sensor, LWS leaf wetness
sensors, pyranometer, PAR sensor, RH/Temperature sensor,
ECT temperature sensor, ECRN-100 rain gauge, ECRN-50
rain gauge.
ECH 2O WIRELESS SYSTEM
) ) ) ) ) )
[ DataStation—BASE STATION
The DataStation radio base station collects and stores data from multiple Em50R
data loggers.
18.4cm L x 10.5cm W x 2.86cm H (7.25”L x 4.125”W x 1.125”H)
Base
Station
f
“Confirm data delivery” protocol allows complete and reliable data transfer.
RS232 serial cable connectivity.
Storage for over 28,000 broadcast packets.
Flexible 12–24 V AC/DC power.
Telemetry testing for connection quality analysis during set-up.
DataTrac
Graphing
Software
q SOILS
Z DataTrac—SOF TWARE
DataTrac graphical and database software organizes, graphs,
and stores data. Users can view and edit data in table format,
create reports, and transfer data to other DataTrac users.
Minimum System Requirements
Microsoft Windows 98 or better
Monitor set to display 1024 x 768 pixels (minimum)
Benefits
Long-range wireless radio
allows large spatial
monitoring.
No need to visit each site
after initial installation.
No programming—only simple
configuration.
Applications
Spatial variability studies
Watershed characterization
Agricultural Irrigation Monitoring
D
DECAGON
DEVICES
Measure More than Soil Moisture
The ECH 2O system also allows you to characterize the environment above the
soil surface. The sensors below can be used with the ECH 2O data loggers and
software to provide data on a variety of environmental variables.
TEMP/RH Durable sensor measures relative humidity and
temperature and outputs both values as a digital signal.
The Leaf Wetness Sensor requires no painting or
calibration. The high resolution detects trace amounts of
water or ice on the sensor surface.
Operating Environment -20 to 60° C
The ECRN-100 Precipitation
Sensor is best for research
applications and measuring rainfall.
Resolution 0.2 mm (0.01 in)
Dimensions 17 cm x 14.2 cm
Probe RH Range 0 to 100% RH
RH Accuracy
±2% from 1–90% RH
±3% from 0–1% RH and 90–100% RH
Temperature Range -40 to 60 ° C
The Pyranometer Model
PYR and the PAR Photo Flux
Sensor are completely water
proof, submersible and designed
for continuous outdoor use.
A leveling plate is included.
Cable length 1m
Range 0 to 2000 μ mol / m 2 s (PAR)
Range 0 to 1750 W m -2 (PYR)
Dimensions 24mm diameter, 29 mm deep.
The ECRN-50 Precipitation
Sensor is best for measuring
irrigation events.
Resolution 1 mm
Dimensions 5 cm x 10 cm
Archer Field PC
The ultra-rugged Archer Field
PC is our recommended
platform for managing data
in-the-field. The Archer is
water-proof, shockresisitant, and remarkably
versatile. The Archer is
capable of a wide range of
adaptations, including:
Capture, map, or
navigate using GPS
options.
Communicate wirelessly
via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.
Rugged design for
AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR
model ECT
Range -40 to 60° C
Accuracy 1° C (-40 to 0° C)
0.25° C (0° C and above)
Use ECH 2O Utility
software to connect
to and configure your
Em50, Em50R, and
Em5b data loggers.
ECH 2O Utility will tell
you how long your
memory will last as
you change your
measurement interval
and monitor your
battery life. Calibrated
and unprocessed data
can be downloaded in
MS Excel or Decagon’s
DataTrac database
CONTINUOUS MONITORING
Pick your sensors
& plug them in.
T
he Decagon ECH 2O system is, by
design, plug-and-play. After
choosing your sensors and monitoring
device, use our software to choose
which sensor you are using and how
often you want measurements taken.
That's it!
X Em50 logger is a highly weather resistant logger for
all Decagon sensors.
Em5b Logger
For EC-5, EC-10, EC-20,
ECRN-50 & ECT
Storage 3,400 scans,
1/minute to 1/day
Communication RS232
Power 4 AAA alkaline batteries,
life 3+ yrs
Dimensions 8.7 x 6.2 x 3.5 cm (3.75 x 2.75 x 1.25 in)
Download software included with Em5b purchase.
X The Em5b has 5 channels that allow scientists on a
tight budget to monitor soil moisture and other
environmental parameters inexpensively.
INSTANTANEOUS MONITORING
q SOILS
MEASUREMENT NODES—Em50 Logger
Channels 5.
Storage >36,000 scans Each scan includes logger
name, date, time, and 5 measurements.
Scan Interval User-programmable from 1/minute to 1/day.
Communication Serial RS232 or USB.
Power 5 AA alkaline batteries.
Battery service life 1 to 3 years logging only.
Dimensions 12.7 x 20.3 x 5.1 cm (5 x 8 x 2 in)
Enclosure Rating IP55, NEMA3.
Download software included with Em50 purchase.
ProCheck
For all Decagon sensors.
Channel 1
Storage 5,000 readings each
reading includes sensor type, date,
time, raw value, calibrated value
and calibration coefficients.
Communication Serial RS232.
Power 4 AA alkaline batteries
Dimensions 15.5 x 9.5 x
3.5 cm (6 x 3.7 x 1.4 in)
Z The ProCheck
instantaneously displays
calibrated readings of any
Decagon soil moisture or
environmental sensor.
ECH 2 O Check
For EC-5, EC-10, & EC-20
Channel 1
Storage None
Power 3V CR2 lithium battery
Communication None
Dimensions Oval—8.9 x 10.2
cm. (3.5 x 4 in)
Z The ECH 2 O Check gives
instantaneous readings of soil moisture (using EC-5, 10,
or 20 sensors) in units of volume of percent (m 3 /m 3 ),
inches per foot (in/ft), or millivolts.
www.decagon.com
DECAGON
Essential Water Potential Data
MAKE FAST, ACCURATE
WATER POTENTIAL
MEASUREMENTS IN THE LAB
T
WP4 and WP4-T Dewpoint
Potentiameters use a chilled mirror to
accurately measure the dewpoint
temperature of air in equilibrium with a soil
or plant sample. Sample temperature is
measured with an infrared thermometer. The
sample water potential is then computed
from these two measurements. An
alphanumeric display shows the sample
water potential in MPa and pF, along with
sample temperature. Readings typically take
5 minutes or less. The WP4-T has internal
temperature control, allowing the user to
measure at any operating temperature
between 15˚C and 40˚C.
HE
WP4 & WP4-T SPECIFICATIONS
Operating Environment
5 to 43°C (41 to 110°F)
Temperature Control (WP4-T only)
15° to 40°C ± 0.2 °C
Sensors 1. Infrared temperature. 2. Chilled-mirror dewpoint.
Range 0 to -300 MPa
Accuracy ± 0.1 MPa from 0 to -10 MPa, ± 1% from -10 to -300 MPa
Read time 5 minutes or less
Interface Cable Serial cable (included)
Data Communications
RS232 compatible, 8-bit ASCII code, 9600 baud, no parity, 1 stop bit
Weight 3.2 kg (5.2 kg shipping weight)
Universal Power 110/ 220V AC, 50/60Hz
Sample dish capacity 7ml recommended (15ml full) 100 plastic cups
included
Calibration Standard 0.5 molal KCl (-2.19MPa)
Applications
Soil moisture characteristics
T
TRACK AND PREDICT WATER MOVEMENT
he total water potential of a leaf
or soil sample is the sum of the
gravitational, matric, osmotic, and
pressure potentials.
Like voltage
measures energy
in electricity,
water potential
measures the
energy of water.
q SOILS
Water potential
is one of the most
fundamental
measurements in
the study of soil.
Differences in water potential between
the atmosphere and soils drive water
movement from the soil through the
plants and into the atmosphere. Water
will always move from high water
potential (less negative) to low water
potential (more negative). However, if
this gradient becomes too high (because
of lack of soil moisture), plants can no
longer pull water from the soil. The point
at which the water potential gradient
between the plants and the soils is too
high is called permanent wilting point. Monitor Water Potential In Situ
ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS IN
ANY SOIL TYPE
I
MPS-1 Water Potential
Sensor down-hole, pack wet soil around
it, plug the sensor into an Em50 or other
compatible datalogger, and start logging
water potential data. The factory-calibrated
MPS-1 integrates high-performance ceramic
with new dielectric circuitry to measure a
wide range of soil water potentials without
user maintenance.
NSTALL THE NEW
MPS-1 SPECIFICATIONS
Range 0 to -500 kPa
Accuracy
±5 kPa from 0 to -40 kPa
±30% of reading from -40 to -500 kPa
Resolution
1 kPa from 0 to -100 kPa
4 kPa from -100 to -500 kPa
Measurement time 10 ms (milliseconds)
Power requirement 2 to 5 VDC @ ~ 10 mA
Output 525 to 925 mVDC independent of
excitation voltage
Operating temperature -40 C to +50 C
Sensor dimensions 75 mm x 32 mm x 15 mm
Connector types 3.5 mm “stereo” plug
Cable length 5 m standard, extension cables available
Datalogger Compatibility (not exclusive)
Decagon Em50, Em50R
Campbell Scientific CR10X, 21X, 23X, CR1000, CR3000, etc.
APPLICATIONS
Water potential monitoring in vadoze zone.
Crop stress.
Waste water drainage studies.
Irrigation monitoring and control.
Plant water availability.
BENEFITS
Pre-calibrated continuous measurement of soils
Generate Moisture Release Curves
INSERT SAMPLE, PRESS START,
AND WALK AWAY
A
IG brings click and read
efficiency to soil moisture
characteristic curves. In 24 to 48 hours,
Aquasorp IG generates up to 200 data
points (water potential vs. water content)
in the wetting and drying directions.
AquaSorp works in the dry range of water
potential (-10 to -300 MPa) which makes
it best suited to dry soils. Whether you are
studying water flow characteristics in dry
soil or characterizing soil expansion,
AquaSorp will provide the information
you need with a fraction of the time
and effort.
QUASORP
Benefits
Rapid moisture release curve generation.
Fast expansive soil characterization.
D
DECAGON
Y Moisture
release curve
generated by
the Aquasorp.
q SOILS
Specifications
Range -10 to -300 MPa.
Accuracy ±1MPa ±1%
Temperature Operating Range 15 to 40° C
Size 44 w x 38 d x 28 h cm
Weight 19 kg
Water Movement in Soil
MEASURE INFILTRATION
RATES AND HYDRAULICS
Bubble
chamber
stopper
Suction
regulation
tube
Bubble
chamber
Chamber
barrier
Acrylic
tube
Water
reservoir
C
quick to set up, the
Minidisk Infiltrometer is ideal
for irrigation system design,
classroom instruction, erosion hazard
evaluation, burn severity studies, and
many other applications. Adjustable
suction and porous stainless steel
contact plate assure a reliable soil
hydraulic conductivity measurement.
OMPACT AND
Total length 32.7 cm
Suction range 0.5 to 7 cm of suction
Water Volume for Operation 135 ml
Diameter of stainless steel disc
4.5 cm dia., 3 mm thick
APPLICATIONS
Compact size for:
Class room instruction.
Field measurements with a limited water supply such
as a canteen.
Mariotte
tube
Stainless steel disc
enclosed in elastomer base
Excel macro included, simply input the soil texture and
the water level readings.
The resulting measurements of infiltration vs. transformed
time are fit with a polynomial. The hydraulic conductivity
is proportional to one of the coefficients.
WATER MOVEMENT
BELOW THE ROOT ZONE
U
DRAIN GAUGE'S duct and wick system to
collect, monitor, and analyze water moving below
the root zone. The Drain Gauge collects down welling
water and sends volume measurements to a surface
datalogger. A surface port allows you to draw out
samples to analyze for chemicals, fertilizers, and other
contaminants. The Drain Gauge is built to be buried and
stay buried. No need to dig it up for maintenance and
inspection.
SE THE
DRAIN GAUGE APPLICATIONS
Waste landfill sites, to advise operators when drainage is occurring and where
cover systems need to be improved.
Maximization of food processing waste applications by monitoring water
drainage rates and water quality below the root zone.
Environmental research measuring percolation and recharge rates.
Farming operations, to measure and control irrigation during a cropping season.
Recreational facilities, such as golf courses, to measure and control excess
water and nutrient losses.
HYDROLOGY
DRAIN GAUGE SPECIFICATIONS
Sampling Reservoir Volume 150 ml
Drain Reservoir Volume 31 ml
Resolution 0.1 mm drainage
Measurement time 10 ms
Power 2.5 – 3 VDC @ 3 mA, for 10 ms
BENEFITS
Z Galvanized steel
exterior and inert
plastic liner protect the
intrument and guard
the collected drained
water in an inert
receptacle.
Model Heat Movement
GET A HANDLE
ON HEAT TRANSFER
F
transfer in the
soil plant atmosphere
continuum with the KD2
and KD2 Pro Thermal Properties
Analyzers. The pocket sized KD2 accurately measures thermal
conductivity and thermal
resistivity in 90 seconds. The
KD2 Pro has more features in a
slightly larger package. Its three
interchangeable sensors give the
KD2 Pro thermal diffusivity and
specific heat (heat capacity)
measurement functions along
with data storage capabilities
and an automatic data collection
mode. OLLOW HEAT
Heated Needle Technology
Requires No Calibration
Displays in Engineering Units
Small Needle Minimizes Soil
Disturbance
Specifications Thermal Analyzers
Measurement
Accuracy*
KD2
KD2 Pro
90 Seconds
90 Seconds
5% Thermal Conductivity
7% Specific Heat
5% Thermal Resistivity
5 to 10% Cndctvty/Rsstvty
5% Thermal Diffusivity
Ranges*
K: 0.02 to 2 Wm -1 C -1
K: 0.02 to 2 Wm-1 C-1
n/a
D: 0.1 to 1.0 mm2s-1
R: 0.5 to 50 mC W -1
R: 0.5 to 50 mC W-1
n/a
C: 0.5 to 4 MJ m-3 C-1
Data Storage
none
4095 readings
Cable
0.8 m
0.8 m
-20 to 60°C
–50 to 150°C
24.7 x 15.2 x 5 cm
15.5 x 9.5 x 3.5 cm
3.0 V Lithium Battery
4 AA Batteries
Environment
Case Size
Power
Sensors
60 mm L, 1.27 mm Dia. needle KS-1, 6 cm, 1.27 mm Dia. needle
TR-1, 10 cm, 1.27 mm Dia. needle
SH-1, 30 mm, 1.27 mm Dia. 2 needles
*Accuracy and measurement range vary with sensor type.
KS-1
6cm needle
length
Thermal conductivity
specific.
TR-1
10cm needle
length
ASTM and IEEE
compliant.
Z Each KD2 Pro comes factory calibrated and
includes performance verification standards.
THERMAL
SH-1
30mm dual
needle length
3 parametersThermal Conductivity,
Thermal diffusivity,
and Specific Heat.
Essential Soil Moisture References
GUIDE TO WATER POTENTIAL UNITS
kPa or J/kg
pF
MPa
Bars
hr
-1
-0.001
-0.01
0.99999
1.01
-10
-0.01
-0.1
0.99993
2.01
-33
-0.033
-0.33
0.99976
2.53
-100
-0.1
-1
0.99926
3.01
-1000
-1
-10
0.99264
4.01
-1500
-1.5
-15
0.98898
4.18
-10000
-10
-100
0.92877
5.01
-100000
-100
-1000
0.47763
6.01
Oven Dry -1000000
-1000
-10000
0.00062
7.01
FC
PWP
Air Dry
FC – Value for drained upper limit of water potential in soil.
PWP – Value for the lower limit of plant available water in soil.
Air Dry – this value varies with the atmospheric humidity.
Relative Humidity – Computed assuming an air temperature of 293K.
pF – Is the base 10 logarithm of the water potential in cm.
Wondering how many
centibars in one megapascal?
Translating data from less
familiar units?
Avoid searching reference
texts by using these essential
H
ave you ever wanted to measure
the water potential of a frozen
soil at various soil depths? To
determine the water potential of a frozen
soil, take an accurate thermometer, measure
the temperature at the desired soil depth,
and multiply by 1.18 MPa/°C.
TRANSLATING DATA
WATER CONTENT CONVERSIONS
wd (kg/kg)
ww (kg/kg)
q (m3 m-3)
wd = Mw
Ms
ww=
wd
1 + wd
rdry
q=
rw wd
wd =
ww=
ww
1 - ww
r
wd = r w q
Mw
Mw + Ms
rw
ww= r q
dry
q= rrwet ww
w
wet
q=Vw
Vt
DEFINITIONS
wd
mass water content, dry basis
ww
mass water content, wet basis
q
volume water content
rdry
dry bulk density (kg m-3) = Ms /Vt
rwet
wet bulk density (kg m-3) = (Ms + Mw)/Vt
rw
water density (kg m-3) = 1000 kg m-3
Ms
mass of dry solid
Mw
mass of water
Vw
volume of water
Distributors
DISTRIBUTORS
AFRICA
South Africa
Thomson Research Supply
135 Voortrekker Road
Room no 7, Goodwood
7459 – Cape Town
tel: +27 21 59 25 041
fax: +27 21 59 25 039
[email protected]
ASIA
China
Ecotek
Unit A,22F., Chengming
Building
No.2 Xizhimen Nadajie
Beijing
tel: +86 10 51 665 551, 66
001 563
fax: +86 10 66 001 652
[email protected]
www.ecotek.com.cn
India
Nu-Tech International
E-4, 2nd Floor, Bali Nagar
New Delhi 110015
tel: +91 11 2546 7218/ 2510
8991
fax: +91 11 2542 0595/2543
7988
[email protected]
www.nutechintl.com
Japan
AINEX Co., Ltd.
2-4-3 Shinkamata, Ohta-ku
Tokyo - 144-0054
tel: +81 3 5713-0388
fax: +81 3 5713-1388
[email protected]
www.ai-nex.co.jp
Korea
C&H
Room #1505 Hwanghwa Bldg.
Yeoksam-dong, Kangnam-ku
Seoul
tel: +82 2 501 3869
fax: +82 2 556 0480
[email protected]
www.candh.net
Vietnam
Nam Y Scientific Chemical &
Equipment Co.
43/3 Chan Hung St.
Ward 6, Dist. Tan Binh, Ho Chi
Minh City
tel: +84 8 970 7043
fax:+84 8 970 7043
[email protected]
Malaysia
Surechem Sdn. Bhd.
#35-2, Jalan Radin Anum 2
Bandar Baru Sri Petaling
57000 Kuala Lumpur
tel: +60 3 9058 6626, +60 3
9058 6636, +60 3 9057 1924,
+60 3 9056 3599
fax: +60 3 9058 7368
[email protected]
www.surechem.com.my
AUSTRALIA AND NEW
ZEAL AND
Team Medical & Scientific Sdn.
Bhd.
No. 41, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla T
31/T
Kota Kemuning
Shah Alam, Selangor
tel: +60 3 5638 0348/9
fax: +60 3 5638 0408
[email protected]
New Zealand
Scott Technical Instruments
Unit 3, 492 Moorhouse
P.O. Box 623
Christchurch
tel +64 3 374 2101
fax +64 3 374 2102
mobile +64 21 380 562
[email protected]
www.scottech.net
Taiwan
Wilson Scientific Co. Ltd.
9F-3, No. 159 Sec.1
Shin-Tai-Wu Rd.
Shijr, Taipei County
tel: 886 2 2690 7696
fax: 886 2 2690 7721
[email protected]
Thailand
Thai Victory Co. Ltd.
1091/226 New Petchburi Road
Makkasan, Rajathewi, Bangkok
10400
tel: +66 2 253-0393/4914/
Australia
ICT International Pty. Ltd.
PO Box 503
Armidale. NSW 2350
tel: +61 267 726 770
fax +61 267 727 616
[email protected]
www.ictinternational.com.au
EUROPE
Austria
UMS Gmbh München
Gmunder Str. 37, 81379
München, Germany
tel: +49 89 1266 52 14
fax: +49 89 12 66 52 20
[email protected]
www.ums-muc.de
Netherlands/Belgium/
Luxembourg
CaTeC
Turfschipper 114
2292 JB Wateringen
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 174 272 330
Fax: +31 174 272 340
[email protected]
www.catec.nl
Czech and Slovak Republics
Ekotechnika Spol. S.R.O.
Mokropeska 1832
252 28 Cernosice, Czech
Republic
tel: +420 737 044 323
fax: +420 251 640 512
[email protected]
www.ekotechnika.cz
Denmark
Inverva ApS
Syvhoejevej 174
DK-5260 Odense S.
tel: +45 65 95 94 54
[email protected]
www.inverva.com
France
Sols Mesures
17, rue Jean Monnet
Z.A. des Côtes
78990 Elancourt
tel: +33 1 30 503 450
fax: +33 1 30 503 449
[email protected]
www.sols-mesures.com
Germany
UMS Gmbh München
Gmunder Str. 37, 81379
München, Germany
tel: +49 89 1266 52 14
fax: +49 89 12 66 52 20
[email protected]
www.ums-muc.de
Greece
Scientact SA
16 Kanari St
54644 Thessaloniki
tel: +30 2310 946 126
fax: +30 2310 947 005
[email protected]
www.scientact.com.gr
Italy
Misure SNC
Via degli Olmetti, 38
00060 Formello - Roma
tel: +39 06 907 5535
fax: +39 06 907 5536
[email protected]
www.misure.net
Poland
Geomor-Technik Sp. Z O.O
ul. Bialowieska 2
PL 71-010 Szczecin
tel: +48 91 482 00 90
tel/fax: +48 91 482 60 87
[email protected]
Romania
SC TERRA PRETA SRL
Bd. Unirii nr. 61, bl. F3, sc. 4,
ap. 510
sector 3, Bucuresti, Romania
tel: +40 746 020249
fax: 031 101 66 76
www.terra-preta.ro
Spain
Lab-Ferrer
c/Ferran el catòlic, 3
25200 CERVERA (LLEIDA).
Catalunya
tel: +34 93 371 05 16
fax: +34 93 473 01 98
[email protected]
www.lab-ferrer.com
United Kingdom
Labcell Ltd.
Unit 3a, Mansfield Park
Four Marks, Alton
Hants. GU34 5PZ
tel: 01420 568 150
fax: 01420 568 151
[email protected]
www.labcell.com
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Canada
Hoskin Scientific Limited
www.hoskin.ca
239 East 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 1J7
Phone: 604 872 7894
Fax: 604 872 0281
email: [email protected]
Argentina
Cava Devices
Bolivia st. 1340
Capital Federal, Buenos Aires
TEL: +54 11 4582 4834
[email protected]
www.cavadevices.com
MIDDLE EAST
Egypt, Jordon & Lebanon
Mefosa – Mena Food Safety
Associates s.a.r.l
126 Sourati St., Lions Bldg
#301
P.O. Box: 113-6382, Hamra,
Beirut 1103 2120, Lebanon
T/F: 00961 1 745744 / 739986
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.mefosa.com
Israel
Meteo-Tech
31 Lehi Street
Bnei Brak, 51200
tel: +97 2 3 616 0598
fax: +97 2 3 618 4384
[email protected]
www.meteo-tech.co.il
Agrolan Knowledge & Input
PO Box 45 Moshav NOV 12921
Ramat Hagolan
Tel: 972-4-6763091
Fax: 972-4-6763093
[email protected]
www.agrolan.com
Turkey
Beta Laboratuvar Cihazlari Ltd.
Sti.
Turgut Reis Caddesi
No. 4 1/4 06570
Tendogen, Ankara
4210 Morris Drive
Burlington, ON L7L 5L6
Phone: 905 333 5510
Fax: 905 333 4976
[email protected]
8425 Devonshire
Montreal, PQ H4P 2L1
Phone: 514 735 5267
Fax: 514 735 3454
email: [email protected]
Mexico
RUBER EIM DE MÈXICO
Av. Arcos Ote 195-B
Col. Jardines del Sur
CP 16050, Xochimilco, Mexico,
D.F.
fax: 52 55 5675 2627
tel: 52 55 5653 3077
[email protected]
Instrumentos del Sur S.A.
Carlos Pellegrini 1069 - 7º piso
contrafrente
Ciudad de Buenos Aires Argentina
www.idelsur.com
Ing. Agr. Cecilia Jaunarena
[email protected]
Te./Fax: (54-11) 4393-3811
Cel: (54-9-11) 3226-5826 153-226-5826
Brazil
Braseq Brasileira De
Equipamentos Ltda.
Av. Dr. Antenor Soares
Gandra, 433 / 435
13240-000 Jarinú - SP
Tel: +55 11 4016 0000
Fax: +55 11 4016 1322
[email protected]
www.braseq.com.br.
USA & All others
Decagon Devices, Inc.
2365 NE Hopkins Court
Pullman, WA 99163
tel: 509 332 2756
fax: 509 332 5158
[email protected]
www.decagon.com
D
DECAGON
DEVICES
Worth Knowing
Canopy Application Notes
BURIED WISDOM
Use of the AccuPAR
Use these must-have soil moisture
conversion charts to find facts fast.
Guide to Water Potential Units
Water Potential in Frozen Soils
Water Content Conversions
[ See pages 24 and 25.
Ceptometer to quantify
effects of riparian
vegetation removal on
stream energy balance.
Measuring leaf water
potential with the WP4.
How the LP80 measures
leaf area index.
Measuring chi value.
Beam fraction calculation
for the LP80.
ALSO INSIDE:
[ Decagon Goes to Mars 2
The TECP probes the Martian regolith.
[ New Canopy Insight 5
Possibilities from an affordable porometer.
Soils Application Notes
Measuring water content
in soilless media using
Decagon Soil Moisture
Sensors.
Modeling available soil
[ Surprisingly Simple Model 7
Measure biomass production without
destroying your crops.
moisture.
Electrical conductivity of
soils as a predictor of
plant response.
[ Acts Like a Leaf 9
A simpler route to sensing leaf wetness.
[ Perfect Pick 11
How to choose the right
soil moisture sensor.
[ Fundamental Insight 17
Comparison of "voltage"
measurement and
D
DECAGON
DEVICES
2365 NE Hopkins Court
Pullman, Washington 99163
800-755-2751
fax 509-332-5158
[email protected]
Classification of expansive
soils using the WP4.
Field portability of the WP4.
Effects of sample
disturbance on soil water
potential measurements.
Measuring specific surface
of soils with the WP4.