I have been researching into the different soil moisture sensor technologies and believe the Aquaflex soil moisture sensor is a compelling technology using TDR/TDT technology. I have read several studies, and/or trials about the Aquaflex sensor and believe that this is the soil moisture sensor I would like to deploy into a new vineyard.

My thoughts are, that I would like three sites within the vineyard, each site has three sensors (9 sensors total) at different depths. Based on a soil evaluation, there are three distinct soil layers at which I'd like to place a sensor in each of them. The depths where I would like to place the moisture sensors are at 10 to 15 cm, 50 to 55 cm, and 75 to 80 cm.

A question I have is how best to link all these sensors to capture and reduce the data from each of them individually? However, I would also like to combined the data in various combinations across all of the sensors. I suspect this can be done on a PC with software. If so, how best to link the PC to the sensors?

Standard sensor configurations are download points for one or two sensors, so a three sensor site would require two battery/download boxes. Previous to joining Aquaflex NZ I worked for an environmental monitoring company here in New Zealand and worked with many of our large vineyard companies. Over the last decade the optimal solution we found tended to consist of a two sensor installation. The first in the main root zone with a sensor running in a sloping trench from about 100mm to 500 mm in depth and a second sensor horizontal around the 600 mm zone. The sensors are usually installed in the same trench running at about 30 degrees to the row some sensor is on either side of the row. The exact depths of the sensors is altered depending on the soil types etc.

The concept is the top sloping sensor works to allow you to determine your bulk water requirements by determining your deficit. The lower sensor works as a check sensor. Over watering is identified by seeing spikes in the time series that return to a similar level soon after irrigation is finished. Also it can work as a check sensor for under-watering or as is often the case in a vineyard managing the level of water stress. As the main root zone dries out the vine will progressively switch to deeper roots to meet its requirement. This switch can help indicate the onset of stress whether intentional or not.

With regards to data access some clients are using a low cost Palm handheld computer to connect to the sensors, take current real time readings and also transfer the historical data back to the PC for further analysis. In recent years, radio telemetry systems have become far more popular with the data relayed directly back to your PC so you can access it easily at anytime your required. If you happen to have a 2-wire irrigation system such as a Motorola Irrinet we also have adapters to transmit the data back to the PC running the irrigation software.

Using the Palm or radio systems allows you to use the Aquaflex Data Management software. It is specifically designed to allow you to compare multiple sensors at one site or sensors over many sites. It allows you to make Field Capacity and Stress Point, add notations and plot rainfall or irrigation as well.

Do you have a distributor in the US?

Yes we do. We have a large distributor network around the world. In some cases we have distributors focusing on different markets such as Golf, Research or Agriculture and differing parts of countires. If you send us a note about your application and location, we can direct you to the distributor who is best equipped to deal with your enquiry. But please do continue to ask questions in this forum if you wish.

Once I get my sensors installed how to I determine points such as Field Capacity so I can use my Aquaflex to better schedule my irrigation?

Excellent Question. To make full use of the system you need to determine at least Field Capaicty and Refill or Stress Point. I have loaded on this web site some articles about determining the main points of interest so you can manage your timing and depth of water application. These can be found in our techinical section by clicking on the following link: Dr H20 on Irrigation Principles.

We have a Dairy Farm with very stoney soils. Will the Aquaflex work properly in this situation?

Aquaflex is ideal for very stoney soils. The soil moisture patterns in very stoney soils are highly variable and the 3m measurement length of the Aquaflex sensor helps average this varability, so you get a representative number to manage your irrigation application. The stones must be place around the tape in a similar fashon and randomness as they would have been before the sensor was installed. The only cautionary note is to take care to pack fines and smaller stones around larger stones when refilling your trench to ensure air gaps are not left in the profile.