Abstract:

The objective of this work was to determine the measurement accuracy of the soil water matric potential (ψ_m) by puncture tensiometers with either rounded or pointed porous cups, installed with or without “soil mud”, and to compare the performance of these tensiometers with that of tensiometers equipped with mercury manometers. The experiment was conducted in a Ultisol, in a randomized complete block design, in a factorial arrangement with five replicates. Puncture tensiometers with rounded porous cups, installed with “soil mud”, present more elevated accuracy for ψ_m determination in a wider measurement range, resembling tensiometers equipped with mercury manometers in drying soil.

Index terms:
puncture tensiometers; rounded porous cup; soil mud