Measuring Instruments

Understanding infiltration and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity over a large research area can be difficult —the more spatially variable your soil is, the more measurements you have to make. Traditional tension infiltrometers are heavy, complex, and take a near-expert to run, limiting the measurements you can make. You need something easier. Introducing the low-cost, ultra-compact Mini Disk Infiltrometer.

Simplicity solves complexity

The Mini Disk Infiltrometer provides you with a better overall picture of your research site because it gives you more data for less time, effort, and money. Due to its incredibly easy setup and compact size, it’s ideal for making field measurements. You just pop it in your backpack with a bottle of water and take it absolutely anywhere. Thousands of scientists worldwide rely on the inexpensive Mini Disk Infiltrometer to understand complex problems such as hydrophobicity in soil, infiltration, irrigation system design, erosion hazard evaluation, and burn severity.

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Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in two easy steps

We designed the Mini Disk Infiltrometer to be the absolute fastest, easiest way to test unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and infiltration rates. There’s no complex setup. Just fill the reservoir, set the suction, and start measuring infiltration. You don’t even have to pre-saturate the disk.

The sensors operate on the principle of single gap light absorption as a means of detecting the presence of suspended solids. The sensors utilize a near infrared emitter to minimize color effects and compensates for emitter variations due to temperature by measuring source brightness.

The InsiteIG PortaCaddie is an organizational tool, sold with each sensor, that captures the meter along with the sensor and cable. The PortaCaddie is designed to manage the cable to eliminate tangles while using the system in the field. The meter, sensor, and cable are retained securely during transport and are easily deployed at the desired test location. The rugged design was built specifically for the rigors encountered by field instrumentation. The PortaCaddie was designed to offer a level of protection to the meter, sensor, and cable

This penetrometer is a simple, easy-to-use management tool that can help to increase yields and decrease costs. It is designed for an exact determination of soil density. In compressed soil, the absorption of water and nutrients by the plant is only possible to a limited extent.

A further consequence is the reduced air exchange in the soil and a reduction of N-minieralisation. Compacted soil also results in poor root and plant development. Because of the density, the roots cannot grow and loose their ability of transporting water and nutrients. That can reduce yields by up to 50%.

This simple, robust penetrometer measures the penetration resistance of soils. It is pressed vertically into the ground by using both handles. The penetration resistance appears on an analog display in psi on an easy-to-read colour display.

Application

• Agriculture, e.g. determination of ploughing depth and horticulture, e.g. care of sport grounds and golf courses
• Soil science researches; advisers and consultants expertises
• Foundation expertises (determining loadbearing capacity)

Technical data:

• Probe: stainless steel probe with markings for soil depth
• Measuring range: 0 – 400 PSI
• Probe length: 750 mm
• Probe diameter: 12 mm
• Tip for firm soil: 13 mm
• Tip for loose soil: 19,5 mm
• Dimensions: 915 × 292 × 58 mm
• Weight: 2.1 kg

Delivery contents: Penetrometer, small tip and large tips for heavy and light ground.

Item-No.: 41010 – Penetrometer
Item-No.: 41011 – Tip, small 1/2”
Item-No.: 41012 – Tip, large 3/4”

Instruction manual as PDF file

The SPAD 502 Plus Chlorophyll Meter instantly measures chlorophyll content or “greenness” of your plants to reduce the risk of yield-limiting deficiencies or costly overfertilizing. The SPAD 502 Plus quantifies subtle changes or trends in plant health long before they’re visible to the human eye. Non-invasive measurement; simply clamp the meter over leafy tissue, and receive an indexed chlorophyll content reading (-9.9 to 199.9) in less than 2 seconds. Assess nitrogen needs by comparing in-field SPAD readings to university guidelines or to adequately fertilized reference strips. Research shows a strong correlation between SPAD measurements and leaf N content.

• Instantly measures chlorophyll content or “greenness” of your plants on a scale of -9.9 to 199.9
• Non-invasive, non-destructive measurement
• Trend graph stores and displays up to 30 measurements
• Waterproof design
• Compare in-field SPAD readings to university guidelines
• Research shows a strong correlation between SPAD measurements and leaf N content
• Available with or without a built-in data logger
• Includes hard carrying case and batteries

TEROS 31 is the only tensiometer in the world small enough and precise enough to perform excellent water potential spot measurements in even the tightest spaces. And now it’s even more robust than ever. We’ve incorporated a more ruggedized, highly precise pressure transducer, giving you higher data resolution in an almost unbreakable form. And the TEROS 31 tensiometer has a blazing-fast response time of only 5 seconds for a pressure change of 0 to –85 kPa. It reacts much faster to changing soil conditions because of its small water volume, enabling you to measure even the most minute changes in water potential—something lower-quality tensiometers cannot do. It measures matric potential within the gravitational range where most water movement occurs and into the capillary range, helping you understand whether water will move and where it will go.