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The results of independent trials at Cambridge University Farm have been released. Commissioned by the British Potato Council, the work was conducted by Dr Mark Stalham, a respected potato agronomist, and expert on irrigation and Dr Steve Gaze his respected colleague.
The research involved an evaluation of various moisture measurement systems including AQUAFLEX and Neutron Probe.
The various systems were installed in a potato crop during the 1999 growing season and the data from each system was analysed and compared in relation to soil and environmental conditions throughout the season.
The results showed that AQUAFLEX produced consistently repeatable and accurate results.
The Neutron Probe, which is widely accepted as a reliable moisture measurement device also came out well in the trials.
"AQUAFLEX closely reflected results obtained from the Neutron Probe".
This demonstrates that the spatial averaging function and the long measurement area of AQUAFLEX provides reliable and consistent results.
The price of AQUAFLEX in comparison to the Neutron Probe coupled with AQUAFLEX's robustness and simplicity means that proven consistency is within the economic reach of even the smallest grower.
Highlights of the report include;
- "AQUAFLEX sensors give good resolution in terms of detail of soil water profile"
- AQUAFLEX and the Neutron Probe "closely recorded the amount of irrigation reaching the soil surface"
- With regard to the correlation between measured and modelled soil drying, AQUAFLEX was within 5%.
- AQUAFLEX and the Neutron Probe were consistent during the drying stage of the crop season.
- AQUAFLEX was within 6% between sensor locations. This confirms the benefit of spatial averaging over a long length.
- "An advantage of AQUAFLEX is that the sensors do not have to be revisited during the season."
- "AQUAFLEX appeared to more closely reflect the changes in soil water content measured by the Neutron Probe, and predicted by a modified Penman-Monteith evapotranspiration model in both drying and wetting phases"
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