FIELD CALIBRATION OF A NEUTRON PROBE

Abstract

A study near Lethbridge, Alberta examined the effect of soil texture and bulk density on the calibration of a neutron probe and explored the feasibility of using only one calibration curve for measuring soil moisture. The effect of soil texture was found to be negligible. Bulk density did affect calibration, but not enough to warrant calibration based on bulk density. A calibration curve derived using all data was adequate for estimating soil moisture content and moisture changes, but the manufacturer’s curve was highly inappropriate for determination of either. Key words: Neutron probe, calibration, texture, bulk density