Tensiometer
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A tensiometer is a device used to determine soil moisture tension, an indirect measure of soil moisture content. The tensiometer consists of a glass or plastic tube with a porous ceramic tip. It is filled with a liquid, usually colored water. At the top of the tube is a vacuum gauge. The device is buried in the soil, and a hand pump is used to pull a partial vacuum. As water is pulled out of the soil by plants, the vacuum inside the tube increases and can be measured by the gauge. As water is added to the soil, the vacuum inside the tube pulls moisture from the soil and the reading on the gauge will decrease. The actual reading will vary according to the type of soil and the moisture content.
Tensiometers are used in irrigation scheduling to help farmers and other irrigation managers to determine when to water. With practice, a tensiometer can be a useful tool for this purpose.
See also
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