Soil Moisture Seminars
Quantification of Resource Capture Efficiency for Cultivar Improvement
Feb 17, 2010 at 8 am PST
Presented by: Dr. Gaylon Campbell
Duration: 60 minutes
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Presentation Summary: Production of total and harvestable biomass by crops depends on their ability to capture resources from their environment. Water and nutrients are obtained from the soil. CO2 and energy (light) are obtained from the above-ground environment. Some relatively simple measurements and models can be used to quantify the efficiency with which a given cultivar can capture these resources and convert them to biomass. Dr. Campbell will address two of these models during the virtual seminar. In the first, the factors relating light capture to biomass yield will be addressed. In the second the relationship between water capture and dry matter production will be considered. Simple models will be presented, along with methods for making measurements and ranges of variability among species. These models can then be used for parental and cultivar selection to minimize light and water use efficiency.
Soil Moisture Measurement Methods and Field Applications
Mar 25, 2010 at 8 am PST
Presented by: Colin Campbell, Ph.D.
Duration: 60 minutes
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Measuring in situ soil water content is an important part of many field research projects. Like many technology areas, instruments that measure soil water content are evolving quickly with new techniques coming into the market regularly. To make an informed decision on what technology is best for in any given situation, it is important to understand the options available on the market. The objective of this seminar is to give an overview of the different methods to measure soil water content, discuss the theory behind the measurement, and provide some examples of field research and what technology might apply in each situation. The main measurement techniques that will be discussed are gravimetric sampling, dielectric methods including TDR and FDR/capacitance, neutron probe, and dual needle heat pulse. Participants in the seminar should gain an understanding of the fundamentals behind each of the methods and in what situation each may apply.
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