Influence of gravimetric water content and bulk density on the dielectric properties of soil

Moisture content and bulk density largely characterize physical and mechanical soil status and behaviour. A nondestructive determination of these soil properties is essential. Time domain reflectometry (TDR), although widely accepted for determination of volumetric water content, θ, has its limitations, and recently a frequency domain (FD) sensor has been developed and tested. An equation relating relative permittivity, ?′, to gravimetric water content, w, and bulk density, p, was established for three soil types (sand, sandy loam and clay). If ?′ and w are known, our model can be used to calculate bulk density and associated volumetric water content, θ, keeping in mind that θ= pw. Utilization is found in long-term monitoring of moisture fluctuations or short-term detection of traffic-induced soil compaction.