The Latest Dirt onThe Latest Dirt onSoil Sensor TechnologySoil Sensor Technology

Larry Stowell, Ph.D., CPAgPACE Turf, LLC,

www.paceturf.org

What are sensors?What are sensors?

Devices that expand our ability to detectDevices that expand our ability to detect something (physical or chemical) that would we cannot sense on our ownwould we cannot sense on our own

D i th t h l b bj ti iDevices that help you be more objective in evaluating turfgrass and soil conditions

Stock human sensors

• Sight – light spectraSight light spectra• Hearing – sound

S ll h i l• Smell – gas chemical sensor

• Taste – liquid chemical reception

• Touch –mechanoreception and pthermoreception

Types of sensorsTypes of sensors

• PhysicalPhysical• Electromagnetic

Ch i l• Chemical• Spectral analysis

Hearingg

Listening for Grubsg

Ultra-sensitive microphonep

Robert Hickling, Sonometrics

Touch

Soil Moisture by Touchy

Monitor fairway soil moisture with a il ti tsoil compaction meter

Dickey-John

Monitoring fairway soil moistureMonitoring fairway soil moisture• Insert meter into soil

using moderate pressure

• A depth of >12” is moist enough to support turf growth

• Avoid rocks, pipes, other obstructions

Turfguard Sensorg

Sensor Installation

Sensor Installation

TelemetryTelemetryyy

Volumetric Water Content

Soil Electrical Conductivity

Geonics EM-38Soil Moisture and Conductivity

EM38 & NTech GreenSeeker Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI)Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI)

Monitor soil moisture with a FieldScout TDR 300 meterFieldScout TDR 300 meter

Chafers vs. Soil Moisture

Clegg Soil Impact Tester USGA TruFrim

Greens Firmness

Soil CompactionSurvey

Trimble AgGPS 132TDS400 Handheld PC

y

TDS400 Handheld PCHGIS SoftwareSC900 Compaction Meter

Stage Construction

Rolling Stones at PetCo Parkg

Compaction MapS f

Before After

Surfer

Before After

8 cm (3 in)8 cm (3 in)300 psi = 2.1 Mpa

Compaction MapS f

Before After

Surfer

Before After

10 cm (4 in)10 cm (4 in)300 psi = 2.1 Mpa

Compaction MapS f

Before After

Surfer

Before After

13 cm (5 in)13 cm (5 in)300 psi = 2.1 Mpa

BEAD THERMOCOUPLE

WHAT IT DOES:WHAT IT DOES:• Measures turf canopy temperatures• Triggers cooling practices before• Triggers cooling practices before

damage occurs

BEAD THERMOCOUPLE: HOW TO USE

1 B i it i h i t1. Begin monitoring when max air temp reach 85F

2 Make measurements at hottest time

Coolbent

2. Make measurements at hottest time of day

3. Place bead in area between base of

CoolPoa

foliage and top of thatch4. Begin preventive cooling when turf

canopy = 100F for poa or 105 forcanopy 100F for poa or 105 for bentgrass

Beginmonitoringmonitoring

Infrared thermometer

Smell

Soil CO2Soil CO2Target < 3%Target < 3%

Taste?

IQ 150 pH Meter

WHAT IT DOES:• Measures soil

and water pH• ISFET solid state

technology• Target soil pH 6.2

– 8.1• Great for spray

tank pH monitoring

FieldScout EC meter

WHAT IT DOES:• Provides a quick,

rough estimate of soil salinity and/or water

li itsalinity• Soil temperature• Timing of

leaching events• Diagnosing turf

problems

Sightg

Spectrum CM 1000 Chlorophyll meter

What it does:What it does:• Objective measure of

turf quality (colorturf quality (color, density)E l d t ti f• Early detection of pest, nutritional

blproblems• Scheduling fertilizer

applications?

Turf �Quality vs. Soil Moisture

Digital Image Analysis

Digital Image AnalysisB Ri P t h PBrown Ring Patch on Poa

Brown Ring Patch Severity

60 50

Brown Ring Patch Severity

60

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50

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50

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/hr 40

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en

40

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30on

Ra

20g P

at

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ing

NDVI Sensors (LiCor)( )

• Equipment mounted sensors

• Easy to operate• Easy to maintain• Easy to maintain• Reliable• Telemetryy

• Remote data managementg

• Web-based data deliveryy

• Google Earth interface

GreenSeeker NDVI Sensors

EM38 & NTech GreenSeeker Normalized Diff V t ti I d (NDVI)Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI)

Trimble AgGPS132 GPS, BB Electronics RS232 MultiplexerBB Electronics RS232 Multiplexer

Relative Turf Quality

Don’t forget to use your head