Calibration of Neutron Probe Measuring Sandy Soil Moisture and Analysis of Defining the Test Parameters

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-6362.2015.02.008

Abstract

Abstract: Six sandy soil sites of Horqin Sandy Land were selected for neutron probe calibration，which was used for measuring soil moisture. Scatter diagram screening and threedot smoothing methods were used for processing soil volumetric moisture data. In order to define the testing parameters，linear and nonlinear calibration models were applied to analyze systematically the calibrated results，which influenced by neutron probe counting time，installation stable time，rainfall and irrigation. The calibrated equation of sandy soils was established through simulation and verification. The results showed that polynomial calibration was more suitable for top sandy soil（0 to 30cm）. Soil with different moisture could be unified calibration because of sandy soil had little effect on the neutron probe readings. The neutron probe could installed stably at least after 7 days，and the errors would be small especially calibrating after one or two heavy rainfalls. 64 seconds of counting time was better when calibrating and measuring. The results would be better if the counting time increased. Under the heavy rain and drought situation，by choosing 64 seconds counting times，high precision calibrated equations could be got with soil moisture within 1.01% to 29.92%. The results indicated that the neutron probe method could be used to test soil moisture，and the calibrated equations precision could be satisfied the actual test requirements.

Key words: Neutron count ratio, Soil moisture, Threepoint smoothing, Average relative error

LIU Qiaoling，LIU Xiaoyan，LIU Tingxi，DUAN Limin，YUE Cuitong. Calibration of Neutron Probe Measuring Sandy Soil Moisture and Analysis of Defining the Test Parameters[J]. Chinese Journal of Agrometeorology, 2015, 36(02): 178-186.

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