Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric Potential
Owing to the increasing popularity of smart agriculture in recent years, it is necessary to develop a single sensor that can measure several soil properties, particularly the soil water content and matric potential. Therefore, in this study, we developed a sensor that can simultaneously measure soil...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/4/2340 |
| _version_ | 1797618205220405248 |
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| author | Yuki Kojima Manabu Matsuoka Tomohide Ariki Tetsuo Yoshioka |
| author_facet | Yuki Kojima Manabu Matsuoka Tomohide Ariki Tetsuo Yoshioka |
| author_sort | Yuki Kojima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Owing to the increasing popularity of smart agriculture in recent years, it is necessary to develop a single sensor that can measure several soil properties, particularly the soil water content and matric potential. Therefore, in this study, we developed a sensor that can simultaneously measure soil water content (θ), electrical conductivity (σ<sub>b</sub>), temperature, and matric potential (ψ). The proposed sensor can determine θ and σ<sub>b</sub> using time domain transmissiometry and can determine ψ based on the capacitance of the accompanying ceramic plate. A series of laboratory and field tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the sensor. The sensor output values were correlated with the soil properties, and the temperature dependence of the sensor outputs was evaluated. Additionally, field tests were conducted to measure transient soil conditions over a long period. The results show that the developed sensor can measure each soil property with acceptable accuracy. Moreover, the root-mean-square errors of the sensor and reference values were 1.7 for the dielectric constant (which is equivalent to θ), 62 mS m<sup>−1</sup> for σ<sub>b</sub>, and 0.05–0.88 for log ψ. The temperature dependence was not a problem, except when ψ was below −100 kPa. The sensor can be used for long-term measurements in agricultural fields and exhibited sufficient lifetime and performance. We believe that the developed sensor can contribute to smart agriculture and research on heat and mass transfer in soil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:09:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-654e0d7de0144cd1a8212cc41cf4e208 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:09:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-654e0d7de0144cd1a8212cc41cf4e2082023-11-16T23:13:28ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-02-01234234010.3390/s23042340Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric PotentialYuki Kojima0Manabu Matsuoka1Tomohide Ariki2Tetsuo Yoshioka3Department of Civil Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi 501-1193, Gifu, JapanDepartment of Civil Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi 501-1193, Gifu, JapanSensing Systems Engineering Div. 2, DENSO CORPORATION, 1-1 Showa-cho, Kariya-shi 448-8661, Aichi, JapanSensing Systems Engineering Div. 2, DENSO CORPORATION, 1-1 Showa-cho, Kariya-shi 448-8661, Aichi, JapanOwing to the increasing popularity of smart agriculture in recent years, it is necessary to develop a single sensor that can measure several soil properties, particularly the soil water content and matric potential. Therefore, in this study, we developed a sensor that can simultaneously measure soil water content (θ), electrical conductivity (σ<sub>b</sub>), temperature, and matric potential (ψ). The proposed sensor can determine θ and σ<sub>b</sub> using time domain transmissiometry and can determine ψ based on the capacitance of the accompanying ceramic plate. A series of laboratory and field tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the sensor. The sensor output values were correlated with the soil properties, and the temperature dependence of the sensor outputs was evaluated. Additionally, field tests were conducted to measure transient soil conditions over a long period. The results show that the developed sensor can measure each soil property with acceptable accuracy. Moreover, the root-mean-square errors of the sensor and reference values were 1.7 for the dielectric constant (which is equivalent to θ), 62 mS m<sup>−1</sup> for σ<sub>b</sub>, and 0.05–0.88 for log ψ. The temperature dependence was not a problem, except when ψ was below −100 kPa. The sensor can be used for long-term measurements in agricultural fields and exhibited sufficient lifetime and performance. We believe that the developed sensor can contribute to smart agriculture and research on heat and mass transfer in soil.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/4/2340time domain transmissiometrysoil water contentsoil bulk electrical conductivitysoil temperaturesoil matric potential |
| spellingShingle | Yuki Kojima Manabu Matsuoka Tomohide Ariki Tetsuo Yoshioka Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric Potential Sensors time domain transmissiometry soil water content soil bulk electrical conductivity soil temperature soil matric potential |
| title | Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric Potential |
| title_full | Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric Potential |
| title_fullStr | Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric Potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric Potential |
| title_short | Time Domain Transmissiometry-Based Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring Soil Water Content, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, and Matric Potential |
| title_sort | time domain transmissiometry based sensor for simultaneously measuring soil water content electrical conductivity temperature and matric potential |
| topic | time domain transmissiometry soil water content soil bulk electrical conductivity soil temperature soil matric potential |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/4/2340 |
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