CS650 Sonde réflectométrique de teneur en eau du sol (30 cm)

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1. Les tiges du CS650 peuvent-elles être raccourcies ?

   Campbell Scientific ne recommande pas expressement de raccourcir les tiges du capteur. L'électronique dans la tête du capteur a été optimisée pour fonctionner avec des tiges de 30 cm de long. Le raccourcissement de ces tiges changera la moyenne de la période. Par conséquent, les équations dans le firmware deviendront invalides et donneront des lectures inexactes.

2. With the CS650 and the CS655, where is the soil temperature measurement made?

   A thermistor is encased in the epoxy head of the sensor next to one of the stainless-steel rods. This provides an accurate point measurement of temperature at the depth where that portion of the sensor head is in contact with the soil. This is why a horizontal placement is the recommended orientation of the CS650 or CS655. The temperature measurement is not averaged over the length of the sensor rods.

3. Can the CS650 and the CS655 measure water content between 0 and 0.05?

   Probably not. The principle that makes these sensors work is that liquid water has a dielectric permittivity of close to 80, while soil solid particles have a dielectric permittivity of approximately 3 to 6. Because the permittivity of water is over an order of magnitude higher than that of soil solids, water content has a significant impact on the overall bulk dielectric permittivity of the soil. When the soil becomes very dry, that impact is minimized, and it becomes difficult for the sensor to detect small amounts of water. In air dry soil, there is residual water that does not respond to an electric field in the same way as it does when there is enough water to flow among soil pores. Residual water content can range from approximately 0.03 in coarse soils to approximately 0.25 in clay. In the natural environment, water contents below 0.05 indicate that the soil is as dry as it is likely to get. Very small changes in water content will likely cause a change in the sensor period average and permittivity readings, but, to interpret those changes, a very careful calibration using temperature compensation would need to be performed.  

4. À quelle distances les capteurs CS650 ou CS655 peuvent-ils être installés ?

   Les capteurs CS650 et CS655 sont lus à la fois en utilisant les commandes SDI-12. Par conséquent, ils ne sont jamais actifs en même temps et ne s'interfèrent pas électriquement. Lors de l'installation de capteurs très proches, une recommandation est de les maintenir à au moins 10 cm de distance.

5. How was the general calibration performed for the CS650 and the CS655?

   Period average and electrical conductivity readings were taken with several sensors in solutions of varying permittivity and varying electrical conductivity at constant temperature. Coefficients were determined for a best fit of the data. The equation is of the form

   K_a(σ,τ) = C₀*σ³*τ² + C₁*σ²*τ² + C₂*σ*τ² + C₃*τ² + C₄*σ³*τ + C₅*σ²*τ + C₆*σ*τ + C₇*τ + C₈*σ³ + C₉*σ² + C₁₀*σ + C₁₁

   where K_a is apparent dielectric permittivity, σ is bulk electrical conductivity (dS/m), τ is period average (μS), and C₁ to C₁₁ are constants.

6. Can the CS650 and the CS655 be calibrated by incremental insertion into saturated soil?

   No. The abrupt permittivity change at the interface of air and saturated soil causes a different period average response than would occur with the more gradual permittivity change found when the sensor rods are completely inserted in the soil. 

   For example, if a CS650 or a CS655 was inserted halfway into a saturated soil with a volumetric water content of 0.4, the sensor would provide a different period average and permittivity reading than if the probe was fully inserted into the same soil when it had a volumetric water content of 0.2.

7. With regard to the CS650 and the CS655, is there a generic calibration equation for organic soil?

   No. The equation used to determine volumetric water content in the firmware for the CS650 and the CS655 is the Topp et al. (1980) equation, which works for a wide range of mineral soils but not for organic soils. In organic soils, the standard equations in the firmware will overestimate water content.

   When using a CS650 or a CS655 in organic soil, it is best to perform a soil-specific calibration. For details on performing a soil-specific calibration, refer to “The Water Content Reflectometer Method for Measuring Volumetric Water Content” section in the CS650/CS655 manual. A linear or quadratic equation that relates period average to volumetric water content will work well.

8. With regard to the CS650 and the CS655, is there a generic calibration equation for artificial soil?

   No. The equation used to determine volumetric water content in the firmware for the CS650 and the CS655 is the Topp et al. (1980) equation, which works for a wide range of mineral soils but not necessarily for artificial soils that typically have high organic matter content and high clay content. In this type of soil, the standard equations in the firmware will overestimate water content.

   When using a CS650 or a CS655 in artificial soil, it is best to perform a soil-specific calibration. For details on performing a soil-specific calibration, refer to “The Water Content Reflectometer Method for Measuring Volumetric Water Content” section in the CS650/CS655 manual. A linear or quadratic equation that relates period average to volumetric water content will work well.

9. Do the CS650 and the CS655 correct readings for temperature changes?

   No. The temperature sensor is located inside the sensor’s epoxy head next to one of the sensor rods. The stainless-steel rods are not thermally conductive, so the reported soil temperature reading is actually the temperature of the sensor head. If the CS650 or the CS655 is installed horizontally, which is the preferred method, then the sensor head will be at the same temperature as the soil, and the soil temperature value will be accurate. However, if the sensor is installed vertically, and/or with the sensor head above ground, the soil temperature reading will be less accurate. Because the sensor orientation is not known, no temperature correction was written into the firmware.  

10. Why is the permittivity reading NAN or 9999999 for the CS650?

    The CS650-series sensors have several logical tests built into their firmware to ensure that the sensors do not report a number that is known to be erroneous. Erroneous readings are either outside the sensor’s operational limits or outside of published accuracy specifications.

    A reported value of NAN or 9999999 does not necessarily mean that there is a problem with the sensor hardware. The conditions outlined below can lead to a value of NAN or 9999999 for permittivity and volumetric water content.

    SDI-12 communications issue

    If all of the following are true, there is likely an issue with the SDI-12 communications between the sensor and the datalogger: the sensor is being polled with an M1! SDI-12 command, the permittivity value reported is NAN, and subsequent values are all zeroes or never change. Possible causes include the following:

    • The sensor is not powered. Check to make sure that the red wire is well connected to a 12 Vdc source and that the black wire is connected to datalogger ground.
    • The sensor signal wire is not connected properly. Ensure that the green wire is well connected to the control port specified in the datalogger program.
    • The sensor has an SDI-12 address that does not match the datalogger program.
    • The sensor has cable or lightning damage.

    Calculated permittivity is less than 0 or greater than 88

    The equation used to convert period average and electrical conductivity values to permittivity is a three-dimensional surface with two independent variables and eleven coefficients, plus an offset. Some rare combinations of period and electrical conductivity result in a permittivity calculation that is less than air (1) or greater than water at 0°C (88). These rare combinations are not expected when the sensor is in soil. 

    Bulk electrical conductivity (EC) is greater than 1.14 dS/m

    When bulk electrical conductivity is greater than 1.14 dS/m, the solution EC is greater than 3 dS/m, which is the upper limit for accurate readings with the CS650. When this occurs, the soil is considered out-of-bounds and will report a value of NAN or 9999999 for both permittivity and volumetric water content.

    Calculated permittivity is less than 80% of the permittivity limit

    A permittivity limit based on the bulk electrical conductivity (EC) reading is used to determine whether the bulk EC at saturation exceeds the sensor’s operational limit. That permittivity limit is calculated and compared to the permittivity reading. If the measured permittivity is more than 20% beyond the permittivity limit, both permittivity and volumetric water content are reported as NAN or 9999999. This is the most common cause of NAN values with the CS650-series sensors, and it occurs because of the soil properties and not because of a sensor malfunction.