AQUATERR INSTRUMENTS M-300 Manuale d'uso - Pagina 8

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It is important to remember that your Meter is a capacitance moisture meter. Capacitance

meters "look" at the air-water ratio in the soil. Thus, soil compaction has an affect on the

reading. A more compact soil will hold less air than a loose soil (like a sponge). This means

that the more compact soil will have higher readings than a loose soil. (See Guidebook for

further explanation). Also important is that your Meter is averaging the readings over the

entire sensor area. Thus, soil contact with the entire sensor is important.

When reading and interpreting the meter's color coding you should remember that the coding

is only meant to serve as a reference. It does not provide an optimal guide for all plants in all

soil types during all stages of growth.

• Blue: Free water is present.

• Dark Green: Ample soil moisture exists for virtually all plant growth.

• Light Green: Water level is approaching stress conditions. For young, budding and

drought sensitive plants irrigate in the upper one half of the zone. Use the lower

end of the zone for mature and drought resistant plants.

• Yellow: Stress is apt to occur, although most plants will survive if water condition is

temporary.

• Orange: Damaging stress to most plants.

• Red: Permanent wilting and death is likely.

While the color coding should only be used as a reference, it points out that plant stress not

only depends on plant type and stage of growth, but also depends on soil types. Thus, the "C",

"L" and "S" on the meter face indicate the reference color bands for Clay, Loam and Sandy

Loam, respectively.

EVALUATING THE SALINITY MEASUREMENTS (Salinity Multimeter)

Remember that you are taking a measurement of the salinity in the soil water. This is not the

same as finding the salinity of a solution extracted from the soil sample the way a lab does.

The difference is that the Salinity Multimeter measurements are evaluated at different soil

moisture levels. This means that:

• The measurement is what the roots are "seeing" now.

• Some salts, which do not dissolve as easily, might not be present in the soil water

which you are measuring.

• Salinity is more concentrated at lower moisture contents.

EVALUATING THE MOISTURE MEASUREMENTS