VZJ Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Published in Vadose Zone Journal 2:389-399 (2003)
© 2003 Soil Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

Laboratory Evaluation of the Dual-Probe Heat-Pulse Method for Measuring Soil Water Content

J. M. Basingera, G. J. Kluitenberg*,b, J. M. Hamb, J. M. Frankc, P. L. Barnesd and M. B. Kirkhamb

a Plant and Soil Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
b Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66505
c Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, 240 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526
d Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66505
* Corresponding author (gjk{at}ksu.edu).

Received 7 December 2002.

The dual-probe heat-pulse (DPHP) method provides a means of estimating volumetric soil water content ({theta}) and change in volumetric water content ({Delta}{theta}) from measurements of volumetric heat capacity. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the accuracy and precision that can be achieved in measuring {theta} and {Delta}{theta} with the DPHP method. Tempe pressure cells fitted with DPHP sensors were used to conduct desorption experiments in which DPHP-based estimates of {theta} and {Delta}{theta} were compared with values estimated by the gravimetric method. For water contents corresponding to soil water pressure potentials below -100 kPa, comparisons were made by packing the pressure cells with soil wetted to known water contents. The investigation was conducted with seven soil materials representing a wide range of physical properties for mineral soils. The DPHP sensors slightly overestimated {theta} at low water contents, but it was shown that the bias could be removed by using an empirical calibration equation, {theta} = 1.09 {theta}DPHP - 0.045. This relationship appears to be general inasmuch as it was shown to be applicable for all seven soil materials and for water contents ranging from 0.02 to 0.59 m3 m-3. The general calibration equation was also shown to be effective in removing bias in {Delta}{theta} estimates. Pooled regression analysis (all soil materials) showed that {theta} can be measured with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.022 m3 m-3. Greater precision can be achieved with {Delta}{theta} measurements (RMSE = 0.012 m3 m-3); however, the results indicated a decrease in precision with increasing magnitude of {Delta}{theta}.

Abbreviations: DACS, data acquisition and control system • DPHP, dual-probe heat-pulse • PVC, polyvinyl chloride • RMSE, root mean square error




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