Integration of Heat Capacity and Electrical Conductivity Sensors for Root Module Water and Nutrient Assessment 2006-01-2211
Management of water content and nutrient status during space flight is a critical element for successful plant production systems. Our objectives were to determine if dual-probe heat-pulse (DPHP) sensors could improve water content determination accuracy over single-probe heat-pulse (SPHP) sensors, and to test a design using coupled heat-pulse and direct-current electrical conductivity sensors, paired as a 4-electrode array. The DPHP predicted water content correlated well with independently measured water contents based on a physically-derived one-point calibration model. SPHP water content prediction was comparable to the dual-probe sensors when using an empirical relationship. Pooled regression analysis showed that water content for both sensors was accurate with a root-mean square error of 0.02 cm3 cm−3. Electrical conductivity was measured in both saturated flow-through and static unsaturated measurements. Model predictions of solution electrical conductivity as a function of water contents were well correlated for water contents above 0.2 cm3 cm−3. Combining the dual-needle heat-pulse probe water content determination with electrical conductivity measurements provides improved root-zone environment assessment and management capabilities.
Citation: Heinse, R., Lewis, K., Jones, S., Kluitenberg, G. et al., "Integration of Heat Capacity and Electrical Conductivity Sensors for Root Module Water and Nutrient Assessment," SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-2211, 2006, https://doi.org/10.4271/2006-01-2211. Download Citation
Author(s):
Robert Heinse, Kelly S. Lewis, Scott B. Jones, Gerard Kluitenberg, Richard S. Austin, Peter J. Shouse, Gail E. Bingham
Affiliated:
Department of Plants, Soils and Biometeorology, Utah State University
Pages: 13
Event:
International Conference On Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Related Topics:
Conductivity
Water
Sensors and actuators
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