Hanna Instruments HI 993310 User Manual
Instruction Manual
HI 993310
Portable
Water Conductivity
& Soil Activity Meter
www.hannainst.com
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Dear Customer,
Thank you for choosing a Hanna product.
Please read this instruction manual carefully before using the meter.
This manual will provide you with the necessary information for correct
use of the instrument, as well as a more precise idea of its versatility.
If you need additional technical information, do not hesitate to e-mail
us at tech@hannainst.com.
This instrument is in compliance with the directives.
WARRANTY
All Hanna Instruments meters are warranted for two years against
defects in workmanship and materials when used for their intended
purpose and maintained according to instructions. The electrodes and
the probes are warranted for a period of six months. This warranty
is limited to repair or replacement free of charge.
Damages due to accidents, misuse, tampering or lack of prescribed
maintenance are not covered.
If service is required, contact the dealer from whom you purchased the
instrument. If under warranty, report the model number, date of
purchase, serial number and the nature of the failure. If the repair is not
covered by the warranty, you will be notified of the charges incurred. If
the instrument is to be returned to Hanna Instruments, first obtain a
Returned Goods Authorization number from the Customer Service department and then send it with shipping costs prepaid. When shipping any
instrument, make sure it is properly packaged for complete protection.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION ...................................................... 3
GENERAL DESCRIPTION .............................................................. 3
SOIL ACTIVITY ........................................................................... 4
WATER CONDUCTIVITY ................................................................ 8
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION ...................................................... 12
SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................... 13
CALIBRATION ........................................................................... 14
OPERATIONAL GUIDE ............................................................... 15
PROBE MAINTENANCE .............................................................. 16
BATTERY REPLACEMENT ............................................................ 17
ACCESSORIES ........................................................................... 18
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PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Remove the instrument from the packing material and examine it
carefully to make sure that no damage has occurred during shipping.
If there is any noticeable damage, notify your Dealer or the nearest
Hanna office immediately.
The meter is supplied with:
• HI 76304 plastic body, conductivity probe with built-in temperature sensor and 1 m (3.3’) cable
• HI 76305 probe for direct soil measurements with stainless steel
conic tip, built-in temperature sensor and 1 m (3.3’) cable
• one 9V battery & Instruction manual
Note: Save all packing materials until you are sure that the
instrument functions correctly. Any damaged or defective item
must be returned in its original packing materials together
with the supplied accessories.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The soil activity, the conductivity of nutritive solutions, irrigation water
and saturated soil-paste are important parameters for growers and
horticulturists.
With HI 993310 it is possible to directly measure, in a quick and simple
way, the soil activity in the ground as well as the conductivity of irrigation
water, nutritive solutions and saturated soil-paste.
The meter is supplied with two probes: HI 76305 with stainless steel conic
tip for direct soil measurements, and HI 76304 for fertilizer enriched
solutions.
The meter allows readings in two different scales and is provided with two
LED’s for indicating which parameter is being tested.
HI 993310 is also equipped with an alarm LED that automatically lights
up if the soil is too dry, or nutritive substances are lacking.
Calibration for conductivity measurements can be performed with a simple
knob located on the front of the meter, and, since the conductivity and
the soil activity are correlated parameters, the soil activity measurements
are calibrated through the conductivity calibration.
Conductivity measurements are influenced by temperature, while the soil
activity depends on the soil texture and its hydric property; both the
supplied probes incorporate a temperature sensor which allows the meter
to automatically compensate for the temperature variations.
HI 993310 comes in a rugged splashproof case suitable to outdoor
measurements.
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SOIL ACTIVITY
SOIL ACTIVITY
Plants absorb nutritive elements dissolved in irrigation water. The ion
concentration of the soil solution depends on the type of soil. Soil can
be rich or poor in nutrients depending on its chemical composition
and its property in retaining water and chemical elements. For
example, clay soil retains more water than sandy soil since it holds
more cations and has a greater microporosity, so that there is a
different availability of ions for the roots.
If the soil is dry, fewer ions are at plant’s disposal. This is the reason
why conductivity readings have to be considered referring to water
presence and soil type.
The HI 76305 soil probe makes it easier to control the soil conditions
and to manage the crops.
SOIL PROBE
The HI 76305 soil probe provides a rapid response and an easy way
to test the soil activity in a variety of applications, as fertilization and
irrigation.
How to use the soil probe:
- Insert the probe in the soil where the roots are more dense or
numerous.
- The recommended depth is 10-15 cm (4-6") for lawn and young
plants, 20-30 cm (8-12") for vegetables and small plants.
- For plants with deep roots (e.g. trees, maize, sunflower, etc.), take
measurements at different depths, e.g. 30 and 50 cm (12 and 20").
- Take measurements in more spots to have a representative average.
- The soil has to be wet. If the soil is dry, add demineralized water.
- The probe tip must be in complete contact with the soil. If the
substrate is too soft, press it with your fingers to achieve a proper
contact.
- Wait until the value on the display is stabilized.
FERTILIZATION
By measuring the salt contents in soil and substrates, before and
after the fertilization, it is possible to have information about the soil
fertility and to design an appropriate fertilization plan. Consequently,
the plants will receive the right quantity of nutrients resulting in a
regular and rapid growth, greater resistance to disease and a more
appealing state manifesting their well being.
The younger plants, especially those that have just germinated, are
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particularly sensitive to soil activity. They require a lower quantity of
fertilizer because they utilize the reserve of nutrients in the seed. This
is true even for resistant species such as sugar beet and alfalfa.
Later on, plants can grow faster with proper fertilization, particularly
in conjunction with optimum lighting and temperature.
If slow releasing fertilizers are employed, their effectiveness can be
regularly controlled by testing the soil activity.
HIGH SOIL ACTIVITY
Soluble salts are indispensable for plant nutrition. However, when
dosed in excess, they can cause various anomalies as toxicity,
alteration of the nutrient absorption equilibrium, difficulty in absorbing water, changing of the pH value and damaging of the soil
structure. For accurate pH measurements, use the Hanna HI 99121
pH meter, specially dedicated to soil application.
Some types of soils are naturally rich in salts. Apart from these, an
excessive use of fertilizers must be avoided and particular attention
must be paid to the use of water with high salt concentration.
If high values are detected, use the appropriate techniques to reduce
the presence of salts (washing away irrigation, reduction of fertilizer
dosages, addition of gypsum if the activity is caused by sodium, etc.).
IRRIGATION
Low measured values can be due to dry soil. In this case, add
demineralized water to the soil, and then repeat the tests. Even soils
rich in nutrients can give low values if they are not wet enough.
Irrigation schedules can then be made based on the measured value.
In case of waterlogged soil, very high values indicate stressed plants.
Find in the following pages a table with some indicative values for soil
activity required by some common plants.
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ORNAMENTAL PLANTS & FLOWERS
Amaranthus
Anthurium
Azalea
Begonia
Chrysanthemum
Croton
Cyclamen
Dahlia
Dieffenbachia
Dracaena
Euphorbia
Ficus
Gerbera
Kalanchoe
Lilium
Orchid
Pelargonium
Peperomia
Philodendron
Rose
Saintpaulia
Violet
LAWN IDEAL VALUES
Lawn 0.1-0.4
ORCHARD IDEAL VALUES
Apricot
Orange
Cherry
Lemon
Apple
Walnut
Pear
Peach
Plum
Grapevine
IDEAL VALUES
0.4-0.6
0.2-0.4
0.3-0.5
0.3-0.6
0.4-0.7
0.2-0.4
0.4-0.6
0.4-0.5
0.4-0.6
0.2-0.4
0.4-0.6
0.4-0.7
0.4-0.6
0.2-0.5
0.3-0.6
0.2-0.4
0.2-0.4
0.3-0.5
0.4-0.6
0.2-0.5
0.3-0.5
0.2-0.4
0.2-0.4
0.1-0.3
0.2-0.4
0.1-0.3
0.2-0.3
0.2-0.4
0.2-0.4
0.2-0.4
0.2-0.4
0.2-0.4
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