Campbell 253-L Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Model 253 and 253-L
(Watermark 200)
Soil Moisture Sensor
Revision: 6/96
Copyright (c) 1993-1996
Campbell Scientific, Inc.
The MODEL 253 AND 253-L (WATERMARK 200) SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR is warranted by CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. to be free from
defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service for twelve (12) months from date of shipment unless specified otherwise. Batteries have no warranty. CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC.'s obligation under this warranty is limited to repairing or replacing (at CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC.'s option) defective products. The customer shall assume all costs of removing, reinstalling, and shipping defective products to CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. will return such products by surface carrier prepaid. This warranty shall not apply to any CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. products which have been subjected to modification, misuse, neglect, accidents of nature, or shipping damage. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. is not liable for special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
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253 Table of Contents
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1. General........................................................................1
2. Installation and Removal............................................1
3. Wiring ..........................................................................2
4. Measurement...............................................................2
4.1 Calculate Sensor Resistance - Instruction 59 ............................................2
4.2 Calculate Soil Water Potential..................................................................2
5. Programming (Measuring Block Resistance)...........3
5.1 AM32 and 21X .........................................................................................3
5.2 AM32 and CR10.......................................................................................4
5.3 AM416 and 21X .......................................................................................4
5.4 AM416 and CR10.....................................................................................5
6. Programming (Calculating Soi l Water Potential)......5
6.1 Linear Resistance and Temperature Relationship (0 to 2 Bars)................5
6.2 Non-Linear Resistance and Temperature Relationship (0.1 to 1 Bar) ......6
7. Programming (Comprehensive) ................................7
8. Interpreting Results....................................................8
9. Troubleshooting..........................................................8
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MODEL 253 AND 253-L (WATERMARK 200)
SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR

1. GENERAL

The Watermark 200 (CSI sensor Models 253, 253-L, 257, and 257-L) provides a convenient method of estimating water potential between 0 and 2 bars (wetter soils) with a Campbell Scientific CR10, 21X, or CR7 datalogger. CSI Models 253 and 253-L are for connection to the AM32 or AM416 Analog Multiplexers. Models 257 and 257-L connect directly to a datalogger.
The Watermark block estimates water potential. For applications requiring high accuracy, call a Campbell Scientific applications engineer for information on precision soil moisture measurement systems.
The Watermark consists of two concentric electrodes embedded in a reference matrix material. The matrix material is surrounded by a synthetic membrane for protection against deterioration. An internal gypsum tablet buffers against the salinity levels found in irrigated soils.
If cultivation practices allow, the sensor can be left in the soil all year, eliminating the need to remove the sensor during the winter months.

2. INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL

Placement of the Watermark is important. To acquire representative measurements, avoid high spots, slope changes, or depressions where water puddles. Typically, the sensor must be located in the root system of the crop.
1. Soak the sensors overnight in irrigation water. Always install a wet sensor. If time permits, allow the sensor to dry for 1 to 2 days after soaking, and repeat the soak/dry cycle twice to improve sensor response.
2. Make a sensor access hole to the depth required with a 7/8" rod. Fill the hole with water and push the sensor to the bottom of the hole. Very coarse or gravelly soils may require an oversized hole (1 to 1-1/4") to prevent abrasion damage to the sensor membrane. In this case, you will need to "grout in" the sensor with a slurry made from the sample soil to get a snug fit in the soil.
Snug fit in the soil is most important. Lack of a snug fit is the premier problem in sensor effectiveness. In gravelly soils, and with deeper sensors, sometimes it is hard to get the sensor in without damaging the membrane. The ideal method of making the access hole is to have a "stepped" tool that makes an oversized hole for the upper portion and an exact size hole for the lower portion. In either case, the hole needs to be carefully backfilled and tamped down to prevent air pockets which could allow water to channel down to the sensor.
FIGURE 1.1 253 Soil Moisture Sensor
A length of 1/2" class 315 PVC pipe fits snugly over the sensor collar and can be used to push in the sensor.
You can leave the PVC in place with the wires threaded through the pipe and the open end taped shut (duct tape is adequate). This practice also makes it easy to remove sensors used in annual crops. When doing this, solvent weld the PVC pipe to the sensor collar. Use PVC/ABS cement on the stainless steel sensors with the green top. Use clear PVC cement only on the PVC sensors with the gray top.
1
253 AND 253-L SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
=
3. When removing sensors prior to harvest in annual crops, do so just after the last irrigation when the soil is moist. Do not pull the sensor out by the wires. Careful removal prevents sensor and membrane damage.
4. When sensors are removed for winter storage, clean, dry, and place them in a plastic bag.
NOTE: The black outer jacket of the cable is Santoprene® rubber. This compound was chosen for its resistance to temperature extremes, moisture, and UV degradation. However, this jacket will support combustion in air. It is rated as slow burning when tested according to U.L. 94 H.B. and will pass FMVSS302. Local fire codes may preclude its use inside buildings.

3. WIRING

The model 253 sensor is supplied with two green leads from Watermark. The leads from the Watermark electrode are connected directly to the H and L inputs on the AM32 or AM416. The lead coming from the center of the sensor is connected to H and the lead from the outer portion of the sensor to L. The wires can be differentiated by the grooved strip in one of the leads of the green wires. On the 253-L, Campbell Scientific splices a two conductor shielded cable to the two conductor green cable supplied from Watermark. The black conductor is connected to H, the white conductor to L, and the shield wire to G or . A 1k resistor at the datalogger is used to complete the half bridge measurement.

4. MEASUREMENT

Instruction 5, AC Half Bridge, is used to excite and measure the model 253. Recommended excitation voltages and input ranges are listed in Table 1.
4.1 CALCULATE SENSOR RESISTANCE ­INSTRUCTION 59
Instruction 59, Bridge Transform, is used to output sensor resistance (Rs). The instruction takes the AC Half Bridge output (Vs/Vx) and computes the sensor resistance as follows.
Rs = R1(X/(1-X))
where, X = Vs/Vx (Output from Instruction 5)
A multiplier of 1 should be used to output sensor resistance (Rs) in terms of kΩ.

4.2 CALCULATE SOIL WATER POTENTIAL

The datalogger can calculate soil water potential (bars) from the sensor resistance (Rs) and soil temperature (Ts). See Table 2.
The need for a precise soil temperature measurement should not be over emphasized. Soil temperatures vary widely where placement is shallow and solar radiation impinges on the soil surface. A soil temperature measurement may be needed in such situations, particularly in research applications. Many applications, however, require deep placement (5 to 10 inches) in soils shaded by a crop canopy. A common practice is to assume the air temperature at sunrise will be close to what the soil temperature will be for the day.
4.2.1 Linear Relationship
For applications in the range of 0 to 2 bars, the water potential and temperature responses of the Watermark can be assumed to be linear (measurements beyond 1.25 bars have not been verified, but work in practice).
The following equation normalizes the resistance measurement to 21°C.
R
R
21
=
1 0 018
s
(. * )
dT
[1]
TABLE 1. Excitation and Voltage Range
DATALOGGER mV EX RANGE FSR
CODE
21X 500 14 ± 500 mV CR10 250 14 ± 250 mV
NOTE: Do not use a slow integration time as sensor polarization errors will occur.
where
= resistance at 21°C
R
21
= the measured resistance
R
s
dT = (T T
s
-21)
s
= soil temperature
Water potential is then calculated from R the relationship.
SWP R
0 07407 0 03704
.* . [2]
21
SWP = Soil W ater Potential (bars)
21
with
2
253 AND 253-L SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
4.2.2 Non-Linear Relationship
For more precise work, calibration and temperature compensation in the range of 0.1 to 1.00 bar has been refined by Thompson and Armstrong (1987), as defined in the non-linear equation,
R
SWP
=
.[.(. . )]
s
TTR
−+ 0 01306 1062 34 21 0 01060
sss
2
01
*.
Table 2. Comparison of Estimated Soil
Water Potential and Rs at 21°C
Bars (Non- Bars Linear (Linear Equation) Equations)
(Rs)kOhms
.037 1.00 .09 .11 2.00 .14 .18 3.00 .20 .26 4.00 .27 .33 5.00 .35 .41 6.00 .45 .48 7.00 .56 .56 8.00 .69 .63 9.00 .85 .70 10.00
1.05 .78 11.00 .85 12.00 .92 13.00 .99 14.00
1.07 15.00
1.15 16.00
1.22 17.00
1.29 18.00
1.44 20.00
1.59 22.00
1.74 24.00
1.88 26.00
1.99 27.50
02: P87 Beginning of Loop
01: 0 Delay 02: 32 Loop Count
03: P22 Excitation with delay (clock)
01: 1 Excitation Channel #1 02: 1 Excite for 0.01 seconds
[3]
03: 0 0 second delay after excitation 04: 5000 Excitation = 5000 mV
04: P5 AC Half Bridge (Measure
AC Conductivity) 01: 1 Rep 02: 14 500 mV Fast Range 03: 1 In Channel 04: 2 Excite All Reps w/Excite
Channel 2 05: 500 mV excitation 06: 1-- Location (Indexed Location
to Store) [:kOhms#1] 07: 1 Multiplier 08: 0 Offset
05: P95 End
06: P20 Set Port (Reset AM32)
01: 0 Set Low 02: 1 Port Number
07: P59 BR Transform Rf[X/(1-X)]
(Compute Resistances) 01: 32 Reps 02: 1 Location [:kOhms#1] 03: 1 Multiplier (Rf/1000)

5. PROGRAMMING (MEASURING BLOCK RESISTANCE)

The following examples demonstrate the connections and programming used to measure the resistances (kohms) of 32 soil moisture blocks.

5.1 AM32 AND 21X

See Figure 5.1 for wiring diagram.
01: P20 Set Port (Enable AM32)
01: 1 Set High 02: 1 Port One
FIGURE 5.1
3
253 AND 253-L SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
5.2 AM32 AND CR10
See Figure 5.2 for wiring diagram. This program can also be used with 21Xs with OSX PROMs although the clock pulse delay is 0.1 seconds (Figure 5.3).
01: P86 Do
01: 45 Set Port 5 high
02: P87 Beginning of Loop
01: 0 Delay 02: 32 Loop Count
03: P86 Do (Clock Pulse, 10 ms)
01: 76 Pulse Port 6
FIGURE 5.3
04: P5 AC Half Bridge (Measure
AC Conductivity) 01: 1 Rep 02: 14 250 mV Fast Range 03: 1 In Channel 04: 2 Excite All Reps w/
Excitation Channel 2 05: 250 mV Excitation 06: 1-- Location (Indexed Location
to Store) [:kOhms#1] 07: 1 Multiplier 08: 0 Offset
05: P95 End
06: P86 Do (Reset AM32)
01: 55 Set Port 5 low
07: P59 BR Transform Rf[X/(1-X)]
(Compute Resistances) 01: 32 Reps 02: 1 Location [:kOhms#1] 03: 1 Multiplier (Rf/1000)

5.3 AM416 AND 21X

See Figure 5.4 for wiring diagram.
01: P20 Port Set (Enable AM416)
01: 1 Set High 02: 1 Port Number
02: P87 Beginning of Loop
01: 0 Delay 02: 16 Loop Count
03: P22 Excitation with delay (clock)
01: 1 Excitation Channel #1 02: 1 Excite for 0.01 seconds 03: 0 0 second delay after excitation 04: 5000 Excitation = 5000 mV
04: P90 Step Loop Index
01: 2 Step
05: P5 AC Half Bridge (Measure
AC Conductivity) 01: 2 Rep 02: 14 500 mV Fast Range 03: 1 In Channel 04: 2 Excite All Reps w/
Excitation Channel 2 05: 500 mV Excitation 06: 1-- Location (Indexed Location
to Store) [:kOhms#1] 07: 1 Multiplier 08: 0 Offset
06: P95 End
07: P20 Set Port (Reset AM416)
01: 0 Set Low 02: 1 Port Number
FIGURE 5.2
08: P59 BR Transform Rf[X/1(1-X)]
Compute Resistances 01: 32 Reps 02: 1 Location [:kOhms#1] 03: 1 Multiplier (Rf/1000)
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253 AND 253-L SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
FIGURE 5.4

5.4 AM416 AND CR10

See Figure 5.5 for wiring diagram. This program can also be used with 21X with OSX PROMs although the clock pulse delay is 0.1 seconds (Figure 5.6).
01: P86 Do Set Port (Enable AM416)
01: 41 Set High Port 1
02: P87 Beginning of Loop
01: 0 Delay 02: 16 Loop Count
03: P86 Do (Clock Pulse, 10 ms)
01: 72 Pulse Port 2
04: P90 Step Loop Index
01: 2 Step
05: P5 AC Half Bridge (Measure
AC Conductivity) 01: 2 Rep 02: 14 250 mV Fast Range 03: 1 In Channel 04: 2 Excite All Reps w/
Excitation Channel 2 05: 250 mV Excitation 06: 1-- Location (Indexed Location
to Store) [:kOhms#1] 07: 1 Multiplier 08: 0 Offset
06: P95 End
07: P86 Do (Reset AM416)
01: 51 Set Low Port 1
08: P59 BR Transform Rf[X/(1-X)]
01: 32 Reps 02: 1 Location [:kOhms#1] 03: 1 Multiplier (Rf/1000)
Figure 5.5
Figure 5.6

6. PROGRAMMING (CALCULATING SOIL WATER POTENTIAL)

6.1 LINEAR RESISTANCE AND TEMPERATURE RELATIONSHIP (0 TO 2 BARS)

Calculate Temperature Correction Factor. See Equation [1] in Section 4.2.1...
...Calculate dT = T - 21
04: P34 Z=X+F
01: 34 X Loc TmpDegC 02: -21 F 03: 36 Z Loc [:CorrFactr]
...Calculate (0.018 * dT)
05: P37 Z=X*F
01: 36 X Loc CorrFactr 02: .018 F 03: 36 Z Loc [:CorrFactr]
...Calculate (1 - (0.018 * dT))
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253 AND 253-L SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
06: P34 Z=X+F
01: 36 X Loc CorrFactr 02: -1 F 03: 36 Z Loc [:CorrFactr]
07: P30 Z=F
01: 34.21 F 02: 35 Z Loc [:Constant ]
07: P37 Z=X*F
01: 36 X Loc CorrFactr 02: -1 F 03: 36 Z Loc [:CorrFactr]
Apply Temperature Correction and Sensor Calibration to Ohm Measurements. See Equation [2] in Section 4.2.1...
08: P87 Beginning of Loop
01: 0 Delay 02: 32 Loop Count
...Temperature Correct Ohms:
09: P38 Z=X/Y
01: 1-- X Loc kOhms#1 02: 36 Y Loc CorrFactr 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bar#1 ]
...Apply Calibration Slope and Offset
10: P37 Z=X*F
01: 41-- X Loc Bar#1 02: .07407 F 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bar#1 ]
11: P34 Z=X+F
01: 41-- X Loc Bar#1 02: -.03704 F 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bar#1 ]
12: P95 End

6.2 NON-LINEAR RESISTANCE AND TEMPERATURE RELATIONSHIP (0.1 TO 1 BAR)

The following instructions convert Rs to Soil Water Potential in bars. See Equation [3] in Section 4.2.2.
08: P87 Beginning of Loop
01: 0 Delay 02: 32 Loop Count
05: P36 Z=X*Y SWP = Tsoil^2
01: 34 X Loc Tsoil C 02: 34 Y Loc Tsoil C 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
SWP = Tsoil^2 * 0.0106
06: P37 Z=X*F
01: 41-- X Loc Bars#1 02: 0.0106 F 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
SWP = 34.21-Ts
08: P35 Z=X-Y
01: 35 X Loc Constant 02: 34 Y Loc Tsoil C 03: 35 Z Loc [:Constant ]
SWPcalc.=[(34.21-Ts)+(Ts^2*0.01060)]
09: P33 Z=X+Y
01: 41-- X Loc Bars#1 02: 3 Y Loc Constant 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
SWP = 1.062[SW Pcalc.]
10: P37 Z=X*F
01: 41-- X Loc Bars#1 02: 1.062 F 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
11: P 35 Z=X-Y
SWP = SW Pcalc.-Rs
01: 41-- X Loc Bars#1 02: 1-- Y Loc kOhms#1 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
SWP = 0.01306*SW Pcalc.
12: P37 Z=X*F
01: 41-- X Loc Bars#1 02: 0.0130 F 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
SWP = Rs/SWPcalc.
13: P38 Z=X/Y
01: 1-- X Loc kOhms#1 02: 41-- Y Loc Bars#1 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
SWPbars = SWP(kPa) * 0.01
14: P37 Z=X*F
01: 41-- X Loc Bars#1 02: 0.01 F 03: 41-- Z Loc [:Bars#1]
15: P95 End Calculation Loop
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253 AND 253-L SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR

7. PROGRAMMING (COMPREHENSIVE)

Follow these steps to create a complete program:
Step 1. Allocate at least 75 input locations in
EDLOG.
Step 2. Set the execution interval according to
need:
* 1 Table 1 Programs
01: 3600 Sec. Execution Interval
Step 3. Make a temperature measurement to
correct for temperature effects. Select from options 1 or 2.
Option 1. If a 107B Probe is part of your
system, measure soil temperature:
01: P11 Temp 107 Probe
01: 1 Rep 02: 3 IN Chan 03: 3 Excite all reps w/EXchan 3 04: 34 Loc [:TempDegC ] 05: 1 Mult 06: 0 Offset
Option 2. If a 107B Probe is not available
but a 107 Probe is part of your system, measure air temperature in the early morning (6:00 A.M.) and assume that will be the soil temperature for the day:
02: P92 If time is
01: 360 minutes (seconds--) into a 02: 1440 minute or second interval 03: 30 Then Do
Step 4. Make the resistance measurements.
It may be appropriate to make measurements only once or twice a day. This example makes measurements twice a day at 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM:
05: P92 If time is
01: 360 minutes (seconds--) into a 02: 720 minute or second interval 03: 30 Then Do
Insert one of the examples from Section 5 here.
Step 5. Calculate soil water potential using
resistance and temperature:
Insert one of the examples from Section 6 here.
Step 6. Output data to final storage after each
measurement and calculation:
06: P86 Do
01: 10 Set high Flag 0 (output)
07: P77 Real Time
01: 0220 Day,Hour-Minute
08: P70 Sample kOhm Resistances
01: 32 Reps 02: 1 Loc
09: P70 Sample Deg C Temperature
01: 1 Reps 02: 34 Loc
10: P70 Sample Bar Potential
01: 32 Reps 02: 41 Loc
03: P11 Temp 107 Probe
01: 1 Rep 02: 3 IN Chan 03: 3 Excite all reps w/EXchan 3 04: 34 Loc [:TempDegC ] 05: 1 Mult 06: 0 Offset
04: P95 End
11: P95 End 6 am and 6 pm loop
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253 AND 253-L SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
8. INTERPRETING RESULTS
As a general guide, Watermark 200 measurements indicate soil moisture as follows:
0 to 10 centibars = Saturated soil.
10 to 20 centibars = Soil is adequately wet
(except coarse sands, which are beginning to lose water).
30 to 60 centibars = Usual range for
irrigation (except heavy clay).
60 to 100 centibars = Usual range for
irrigation for heavy clay soils.
100 to 200 centibars = Soil is becoming
dangerously dry for maximum production.

9. TROUBLESHOOTING

To test the sensor, submerge it in water. Measurements should be from -.03 to .03 bars. Let the sensor dry for 30 to 48 hours. You should see the reading increase from 0 to 150+. Put the sensor back in the water. The reading should run right back down to zero in 1 to 2 minutes. If the sensor passes these tests, consider the following.
3. When the soil dries out to the point where you are seeing readings higher than 80 centibars, the contact between soil and sensor can be lost because the soil may start to shrink away from the sensor. An irrigation which only results in a partial rewetting of the soil will not fully rewet the sensor, which can result in continued high readings from the Watermark. Full rewetting of the soil and sensor usually restores soil/sensor contact. This is most often seen in the heavier soils and during peak crop water demand when irrigation may not be fully adequate. The plotting of readings on a chart is most useful in getting a good picture of this sort of behavior.
Reference
Thompson, S.J. and C.F. Armstrong,
Calibration of the Watermark Model 200 Soil Moisture Sensor, Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 186-189,
1987.
Parts of this manual were contributed by Irrometer Company, Inc., manufacturer of the Watermark 200.
1. Sensor may not have a snug fit in the soil. This usually happens when an oversized access hole has been used and the backfilling of the area around the sensor is not complete.
2. Sensor is not in an active portion of the root system, or the irrigation is not reaching the sensor area. This can happen if the sensor is sitting on top of a rock or below a hard pan which may impede water movement. Re-installing the sensor usually solves this problem.
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