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Measurement of Soil Water Content using Time-domain Reflectrometry (TDR): A Field Evaluation¹

ABSTRACT

For measurement of water content using TDR, parallel wire transmission lines varying in length from 0.125 to 1 m were installed vertically at planting time at three sites in a corn field. At one of the sites horizontal lines and additional vertical transmission lines with electrical impedance discontinuities were installed for comparison. Measurements of water content using a portable TDR cable tester were made periodically during the growing season. Comparisons of water contents by TDR with those from gravimetric samples showed that generally both were the same values. Standard deviations of differences between TDR and gravimetric values were ± 0.02 m³m^–3 when measured locations were the same but increased to ± 0.06 m³m^–3 when measured locations were different. Repeated measurements at the same location were highly correlated, one with another, over the season. Analysis of variance showed that all transmission line types were yielding equivalent values and that the horizontal transmission lines gave the minimum standard error of the mean. Data from transmission lines with impedance discontinuities gave water content profiles from a single measurement but the analyses of the TDR data curves were more complex than for the lines without impedance discontinuities. The variety of transmission line configurations for use in TDR measurement allows considerable flexibility of choice in relation to one's application.

¹ L.R.R.I. Contribution no. 83-65.

² Soil physicist, Land Resource Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6.

³ Geophysicist, A-Cubed Inc., 5566 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ont. L4W 1P4.

Received for publication January 12, 1984. Accepted for publication August 10, 1984.

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