Soil water sensors are commonly used to monitor water content and matric potential in order to study hydrological processes such as evaporation. Finding a proper sensor is sometimes difficult, especially for measureme...Soil water sensors are commonly used to monitor water content and matric potential in order to study hydrological processes such as evaporation. Finding a proper sensor is sometimes difficult, especially for measurements in topsoil, where changes of temperature and soil water dynamics occur generally with greater intensity compared to deeper soil layers. We assessed the perfor-mance of Hydra Probe water content sensors and MPS-1 matric potential sensors in topsoil in the laboratory and in the field. A common soil-specific calibration function was determined for the Hydra Probes. Measurement accuracy and sensor-to-sensor variation were within the manufacturer specification of ±0.03 m3·m-3. Hydra Probes can operate from dry to saturated conditions. Sensor-specific calibrations from a previous study were used to reduce sensor-to-sensor variation of MPS-1. Measurement accuracy can be expressed by a mean relative error of 10%. According to the manufacturer, the application range of matric potential readings is from -10 kPa to -500 kPa. MPS-1 delivered also values beyond this range, but they were not reliable. Sensor electronics of the MPS-1 were sensitive to ambient temperature changes. Beyond instrument effects, field measurements showed substantial temperature-driven fluctuations of soil water content and matric potential, which complicated data interpretation.展开更多
This article outlines the major scientific objectives of the SHui project that seeks to optimize soil and water use in agricultural systems in the EU and China,by considering major current scientific challenges in thi...This article outlines the major scientific objectives of the SHui project that seeks to optimize soil and water use in agricultural systems in the EU and China,by considering major current scientific challenges in this area.SHui(for Soil Hydrology research platform underpinning innovation to manage water scarcity in European and Chinese cropping systems)is large cooperative project that aims to provide significant advances through transdisciplinary research at multiple scales(plot,field,catchment and region).This paper explains our research platform of long-term experiments established at plot scale,approaches taken to integrate crop and hydrological models at field scale;coupled crop models and satellite-based observations at regional scales;decision support systems for specific farming situations;and the integration of these technologies to provide policy recommendations through socio-economic analysis of the impact of soil and water saving technologies.It also outlines the training of stake-holders to develop a basic common curriculum despite the subject being distributed across different disciplines and professions.As such,this article provides a review of major challenges for improving soil and water use in EU and China as well as information about the potential to access information made available by SHui,and to allow others to engage with the project.展开更多
文摘Soil water sensors are commonly used to monitor water content and matric potential in order to study hydrological processes such as evaporation. Finding a proper sensor is sometimes difficult, especially for measurements in topsoil, where changes of temperature and soil water dynamics occur generally with greater intensity compared to deeper soil layers. We assessed the perfor-mance of Hydra Probe water content sensors and MPS-1 matric potential sensors in topsoil in the laboratory and in the field. A common soil-specific calibration function was determined for the Hydra Probes. Measurement accuracy and sensor-to-sensor variation were within the manufacturer specification of ±0.03 m3·m-3. Hydra Probes can operate from dry to saturated conditions. Sensor-specific calibrations from a previous study were used to reduce sensor-to-sensor variation of MPS-1. Measurement accuracy can be expressed by a mean relative error of 10%. According to the manufacturer, the application range of matric potential readings is from -10 kPa to -500 kPa. MPS-1 delivered also values beyond this range, but they were not reliable. Sensor electronics of the MPS-1 were sensitive to ambient temperature changes. Beyond instrument effects, field measurements showed substantial temperature-driven fluctuations of soil water content and matric potential, which complicated data interpretation.
基金This work has been supported by Project SHui which is co-funded by the European Union Project GA 773903 and the Chi-nese MOST
文摘This article outlines the major scientific objectives of the SHui project that seeks to optimize soil and water use in agricultural systems in the EU and China,by considering major current scientific challenges in this area.SHui(for Soil Hydrology research platform underpinning innovation to manage water scarcity in European and Chinese cropping systems)is large cooperative project that aims to provide significant advances through transdisciplinary research at multiple scales(plot,field,catchment and region).This paper explains our research platform of long-term experiments established at plot scale,approaches taken to integrate crop and hydrological models at field scale;coupled crop models and satellite-based observations at regional scales;decision support systems for specific farming situations;and the integration of these technologies to provide policy recommendations through socio-economic analysis of the impact of soil and water saving technologies.It also outlines the training of stake-holders to develop a basic common curriculum despite the subject being distributed across different disciplines and professions.As such,this article provides a review of major challenges for improving soil and water use in EU and China as well as information about the potential to access information made available by SHui,and to allow others to engage with the project.
