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An ASABE Meeting Presentation Paper Number: 072200

Field evaluation of dual frequency multi-sensor capacitance probes for water and nutrient management in drip irrigation.
Ian R. McCann
University of Delaware, 16483 County Seat Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.

James L. Starr
USDA ARS retired

Written for presentation at the 2007 ASABE Annual International Meeting Sponsored by ASABE Minneapolis Convention Center Minneapolis, Minnesota 17 - 20 June 2007
Abstract. Capacitance sensors are now commercially available that operate at two frequencies. At one frequency the sensor responds to soil water content while at the other frequency it responds to solute concentration. We used these sensors, located at 10, 20, 30, 50 and 70 cm depth in a multisensor probe configuration, in 2005 and 2006 in mulched drip irrigation of seedless watermelon in Delaware. The probes were located in the center and halfway to one edge of the bed in two replications of two fertigation treatments, and were logged at 30 minute intervals. A total of 168 kg N/mulched ha (150 lb/mulched ac) was applied to each treatment, with one third of it applied preplant. The remaining N (112 kg N/mulched ha (100 lb/mulched ac) was split into either two or four equal fertigations. The objective was to evaluate the response of the sensors to the irrigations (equal for both treatments) and to the N content of the soil as affected by soil water movement and fertigation. Preliminary results indicate that the sensors did respond to the fertigations, and were able to provide insight into the relative changes in both water content and solute concentration. As such, they may be a promising research and management tool in appropriate light textured soils. Keywords. Nitrogen, salinity, irrigation management, soil water content, volumetric ion content

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Introduction
Drip irrigation with plastic mulch has become an important production system for high value crops such as vegetables. However, while it can be an efficient method, drip irrigation is complex compared to other irrigation systems such as sprinkler because: Irrigation water is applied to only part of the field, and is applied as a line of equally spaced point sources rather than relatively uniformly to the entire field. The areal extent of the canopy is often not the same as the areal extent of the roots. Both the lateral and vertical root distribution relative to the drip tape may be affected by irrigation management itself. In sandy soils, downward movement of water below the drip tape may be significantly higher than lateral movement, making it difficult to adequately replenish the wetted soil volume without causing deep percolation. The evaporative component of evapotranspiration (ET) is suppressed by the plastic mulch. Nutrients are commonly applied through the drip tape (fertigation), and so will have the same distribution and dynamics as the irrigation water. In a humid climate, mulched drip irrigation is even more complex to manage because: Rain falling directly on the plastic mulch cannot infiltrate, but runs off to the edge. Rainwater is therefore concentrated at the edge, where it can infiltrate the soil but must then move laterally to contribute to soil water content under the mulch. Rain falling on the inter-row area may contribute to crop water use if roots are present and infiltration is sufficient Rain can enter the soil under the mulch through the planting holes (perhaps also channeled by stem flow) and through cuts and tears that may develop in the mulch, but this direct contribution to soil water content is difficult to quantify. Regardless of the complexity, growers have to make decisions on how frequently and how long to run their systems. Because of uncertainty and the fact that the water is out of sight (and soil water content under the mulch cannot be readily assessed), growers will tend to over-irrigate as insurance against under irrigation. We have been conducting research in Delaware using Multisensor Capacitance Probes (MCPs) to measure volumetric soil water content (SWC) and dynamics under mulched drip irrigated watermelon (McCann and Starr, 2007). These probes measure SWC at discrete depths by measuring the capacitance of the soil surrounding the sensors, which in turn depends on the dielectric constant of the soil volume. One version of an MCP is the EnviroSCAN1 (Sentek Pty. Ltd., 77 Magill Rd, Stepney, South Australia 5069), in which up to 16 sensors can be placed on a single probe, with depth intervals set by the user in 10-cm increments. Paltineanu and Starr (1997) calibrated these probes in the

Trade names are used in this publication to provide specific information. Mention of a trade name does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product or equipment by the USDA or an endorsement over other similar products.

laboratory. The probes are placed in an access tube installed in the soil and logged at time intervals that can vary from one minute to about one week. Both water content and electrical conductivity affect dielectric constant, but Enviroscan MCPs operate at a frequency greater than 100 MHz to minimize sensitivity to electrical conductivity. They have been extensively used as an irrigation management tool since 1991 (Buss, 1993) and as a near continuous real time soil-water monitoring tool for soilwater related research (Starr and Paltineanu, 1998; Paltineanu and Starr, 2000; Fares and Alva, 2000; and Starr and Timlin, 2004). The increased sensitivity of capacitance measurements to electrical conductivity (and therefore salinity) at lower frequencies has been used in the development of the Sentek dual mode or TriSCAN MCP, which makes measurements at two frequencies (>100 MHz and < 27 MHz) with the same sensor. Buss et al (2004) reported a good correlation (r2=0.85) between electrical conductivity of soil extract and a value termed the Volumetric Ion Content (VIC) that is computed using a proprietary model based on empirical research between dual mode sensor resonance frequencies, volumetric water content, and soil electrical conductivity. VIC measures the quantity of ions present in the volume of soil being measured, and is therefore dependent on both the concentration of ions in the soil water and the soil water content. TriSCAN MCPs use a standard SDI-12 protocol that can be used with appropriate commercially available data loggers, and are designed to enable salinity in a sandy soil to be inferred as well as SWC. Soluble nutrients such as nitrogen are the primary component in soil water salinity when the irrigation water itself has a naturally low ion content. The additional cost of the dual frequency MCP over the single frequency version is relatively low. If they can provide useful additional information for fertilizer management as well as irrigation management their cost effectiveness will be greater. Furthermore, the additional capability would make them an attractive sensor to use in any potential automated instrumentation system to help growers make management decisions. The objective of our research was to determine the response of TriSCAN MCPs to irrigation and fertigation under mulched drip irrigation.

METHODS
We used TriSCAN MCPs in 2005 and 2006 in mulched drip irrigated watermelon at the University of Delaware Research and Education Center in Georgetown, DE (38 38 N 75 27 W). The crop was grown on raised beds with a row spacing of 2.44m (8ft) and a plant spacing of 0.91m (3ft). The drip tape (T-Tape, T-Systems International) had an emitter spacing of 30.5 cm (12 in) and a flow rate of 335 l/hr/100m (0.45 gpm/100 ft). The crop was irrigated every one to three days as required to replace crop water use from the mulched area, using reference evapotranspiration (ET0) as a guide (calculated using the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith method (Allen et al, 1998) from data collected at a nearby automated weather station). The measured SWC was also used to observe trends over time to in order to correct irrigation amounts as necessary to maintain SWC within the desired range. The width of the mulched row was approximately 76 cm (30 in), and so an irrigation of 10 mm would require 2.27 hours Nitrogen was applied prior to bed preparation to provide a rate of 56 Kg N/mulched ha (50 lb N/ mulched ac) to all plots. Fertigation supplied an additional 112 Kg N/mulched ha (100 lb N/ mulched ac) in either four applications of 28 Kg N/mulched ha (25 lb N/mulched acre), or two applications of 56 Kg N/mulched ha (50 lb N/mulched acre). A diaphragm type injector pump was used to inject the appropriate amount of nitrogen soon after the beginning of the irrigation.

MCPs were installed in two replications of each fertigation amount. In each instrumented plot one MCP was installed in the center of the bed 7.5 cm (3 in) from the drip tape while another was installed 25 cm from the drip tape, halfway towards the edge of the bed. These two probe positions are referred to as center and fringe respectively. Each MCP had five sensors, located at depths of 10, 20, 30, 50 and 70 cm (fig. 1). A total of 8 TriSCAN probes (two positions in two replications of two fertigation treatments) were therefore used (40 sensors) and read at 30 minute intervals. We used the sensors with the default calibration and did not attempt any on-site calibration as this is likely how growers would use them (we are however currently conducting a laboratory calibration).

Bare soil

Plastic mulched soil Crop canopy

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Figure 1. Location of MCPs under mulched drip irrigated watermelon.

Results and Discussion


MCPs can gather large amounts of data. In this case over 1900 simultaneous measurements of SWC and VIC were made every day. The dynamics of SWC under drip irrigation can also sometimes make it difficult to quantify trends over time. Figure 2 shows SWC and VIC in the center position at all five depths in one replication of the 56 kg N fertigation rate in 2006. Soil water content at 10, 20 and 30 cm clearly responded to irrigations, as shown by the spikes in SWC and the subsequent drainage. Irrigation however did not rapidly percolate to 50 and 70 cm In the latter part of June large amounts of rainfall increased SWC at all depths, but subsequent drainage and crop water use caused SWC to slowly decline at 70 cm and decline and then approximately stabilize at 50 cm. Volumetric ion content at 10 and 20 cm was relatively low at the beginning of the season compared to VIC at 30, 50 and 70 cm. At 30 cm, VIC decreased rapidly in the latter part of June, perhaps as a result of rainfall leaching nitrogen to lower in the profile. The VIC at 50 and 70 cm shows an increase (along with increased variability) during this period, supporting the idea that nitrogen was leaching. From the end of June, VIC at 10, 20 and 30 cm remained low until the first of the two fertigations, the effect of which can be clearly seen. The subsequent fertigation also clearly caused a response in the top 3 sensors (greater in magnitude than the first fertigation). It was also evident at 50 cm, where the generally declining VIC leveled out before later resuming its decline. At 70 cm VIC generally declined and did not respond to either fertigation. Nitrogen uptake by the crop probably caused declines in VIC during most of the season, and by the end of the season it had declined to relatively low values at all depths. The changes in VIC and SWC over a shorter time period are shown in figure 3a and 3b respectively for the same plot shown in figure 2. The period begins on 25 July, the day of the final fertigation. All values are shown as a percentage of the value at midnight on 24 July. Also shown are the irrigation events (fig 3c). At 10 and 20 cm there is a rapid increase in VIC, followed later by a rapid increase at 30 cm. Subsequent declines in VIC occur first at 10 cm and later at 20 and 30 cm. At 50 and 70 cm VIC remained relatively constant. Soil water content at 10, 20 and 30 cm responded to all the irrigations, and at 10 cm there was also a rapid response to the two small rainfall events, indicating that the rainfall infiltrated below the mulch, perhaps through the planting hole or around the probe access tube (although silicone sealant was applied around the tube after installation to prevent this). Irrigation did not percolate to 50 and 70 cm.

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Fig 2. Soil water content (top) and volumetric ion content (bottom) measured at 30 minute intervals at 10, 20, 30, 50, and 70 cm at the center position in one replication. The arrows indicate fertigations of 56 kg/ha

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Figure 3. Change in VIC (a) and SWC (b) as a percentage of the value at midnight on 24 July. Irrigations are shown in (c), and rainfall events are shown as arrows in (b), with both events being between 4 and 5 mm.

Short term soil water dynamics can make it difficult to observe longer term trends. Figure 4a shows the daily values of SWC at 6am (before changes caused by irrigation and daily uptake) averaged over the top 3 sensors (representing 5-35 cm) and the bottom 2 sensors (representing 45-75 cm) in the center position of the same plot shown in figs 2 and 3. Figure 4b shows the corresponding VIC (arrows indicate the two fertigations), while figs 4c and 4d show the corresponding SWC and VIC at the fringe position. There is a slight increase in SWC over time from 5-35 cm in both the center and fringe positions. At the deeper depth increment there is a slight decrease in SWC in the center position, while at the fringe position there is an increase (probably caused by rain) followed by a gradual decrease. In the top depth increment the VIC response to both fertigations in the center position can be clearly seen, along with a smaller response at the deeper increment. There is also a response at the fringe position in the top increment, but much less than at the center position.
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Figure 4. Daily soil water content (SWC) and volumetric ion content (VIC) at 6am, from 5-35 cm (top 3 sensors) and 45-75 cm (bottom 2 sensors) in the center position (a and b) and fringe position (c and d) in one replication. Arrows show fertigations.

The deeper increment in the fringe position shows an increase in VIC, but this occurred before the first fertigation so it likely resulted from movement of preplant nitrogen due to rainfall infiltration and movement from the edge of the bed. The above results are representative of both years and both fertigation rates. The VIC response to the lower fertigation rate was substantially lower than it was to the higher rate, but it was still discernible. Observing the relative changes and trends over time may be a good way to use these probes. Determining how well the absolute values describe fertigation will require more research, but may not be necessary for practical use. More important would be software that can capture the important changes and trends in SWC and VIC and display it in a way that growers can readily understand and use to help tem with their management decisions. The complexities of soil water movement under drip irrigation do not make this system an ideal environment in which to field test these sensors. However, the results to date are sufficiently encouraging to warrant additional research.

Conclusion
Dual frequency MCPs are comparable to single frequency MCPs in their response to soil water content while at the same time they appear able to at least qualitatively respond to changes in nitrogen content. They therefore have the potential to help growers manage both irrigation and nitrogen under appropriate conditions. Using this potential will require additional software to process the relevant data and present it to growers in a useful and meaningful way.

Acknowledgements
We acknowledge and appreciate the help of Jeremy Ernest (U. Delaware), and Peter Downey and Randy Rowland (USDA ARS, Beltsville, MD) with probe installation.

References
Allen, R.G., L.S. Pereira, D. Raes and M. Smith. 1998. Crop Evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome. 299pp. Buss, P., 1993. The use of capacitance based measurements of real time soil water profile dynamics for irrigation scheduling. In Proceedings of the National Conf. of the Irrigation Assoc., Australia and the National Committee on Irrig. and Drainage, Launceston, Tasmania, 17-19 May 1993. Buss, P., M. Dalton, S. Green, R. Guy, C. Roberts, R. Gatto and G. Levy. 2004. Use of TriSCAN for measurement of water and salinity in the soil profile. 1st NationalSalinity Engineering conference. Perth, Australia. Fares, A., and A. K. Alva. 2000. Evaluation of capacitance probes for optimal irrigation of citrus through soil moisture monitoring in an entisol profile. Irrig. Sci. 19 (2): 57-64. McCann, I.R. and J.L. Starr. 2007. In press. Use of Multisensor Capacitance Probes as irrigation management tool in humid areas: case studies and experiments from the Mid Atlantic region. Applied Eng. In Agriculture. Paltineanu, I. C., and J. L. Starr. 1997. Real-time soil water dynamics using multisensor capacitance probes: laboratory calibration. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61:1576-1585. Paltineanu, I. C., and J. L. Starr. 2000. Preferential water flow through corn canopy and soil water dynamics across rows. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 64:44-54.

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Starr, J. L. and D. J. Timlin. 2004. Using high-resolution soil moisture data to assess soil water dynamics in the vadose zone. Vadose Zone J. 3:926-935. Starr, J. L., and I. C. Paltineanu. 1998. Soil water dynamics using multisensor capacitance probes in non-traffic interrows of plow- and no-till corn. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 62:114-122.

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