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Installation
3 Installation
3.1 Concept planning and installation
3.1.1 Selecting the measuring site
The installation spot should be representative for the soil horizon!
Therefore, in heterogenic soils, classifying drillings should be made
before or during installation.
On farmed sites with vegetation root spreading and root growth
during the measuring period must be considered. Fine roots will grow
around the Tensiometer cup as this is a poor but still secure source
of water. Therefore, avoid the root zone or move the Tensiometer
from time to time depending on the root growth.
Disturbing effects like waysides, the rim of a field, slopes or dints
must be avoided or considered in the interpretation of the measuring
results.
3.1.2 Number of Tensiometers per level
The lower the level the less the variations of water potentials are. In
sandy or pebbly profundities one Tensiometer per depth is sufficient.
Close to the surface about 3 Tensiometers per level are
recommendable.
Guiding principle: More heterogeneous sites and soil structures
require a higher number of Tensiometers.
3.1.3 Extension of the site
Large distance along with high equidistance between the measuring
spots will reduce the influence of sectional heterogeneity.
To obtain a differential description of the soil water situation at least
2 Tensiometers are recommended per horizon, one in the upper and
one in the lower level.
Cable lengths of 100 meters and more are possible (see chapter 8.2
for cables) but should be avoided for the following reasons:
Accuracy: with a single-ended connection each 10 meter of
cable causes a reduction of the accuracy. (See chapter 3.3.1 for
compensation of current drop with single-ended connections)
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