Summary
This controlled drying experiment systematically evaluated three soil water potential sensor technologies—polymer tensiometers (POTs), MPS-2 probes, and pF meters—for their capacity to measure in situ soil water retention curves over the plant-relevant water potential range. Polymer tensiometers and MPS-2 probes demonstrated good reliability within their respective measurement ranges and, when combined with soil moisture probes, enabled direct observation of water retention curves in the field. The pF meters showed poor accuracy below −30 kPa and exhibited measurement-interval-dependent errors, suggesting limited utility for precise field-based water potential assessment in drier soil conditions.
UK applicability
The findings are applicable to UK soil and water monitoring practice, as reliable in situ water potential measurement is relevant for irrigation management, soil hydrology studies, and understanding root zone dynamics in variable UK soil conditions. The comparative evaluation provides practical guidance for selecting appropriate sensor technology for field-scale water potential monitoring in temperate agricultural and research contexts.
Key measures
Soil water potential (measured in kPa); soil moisture content; water retention curves (WRC); sensor reliability and accuracy across saturation to wilting point tension ranges
Outcomes reported
The study compared three types of soil water potential sensors (polymer tensiometers, MPS-2 probes, and pF meters) in a controlled drying experiment to assess their ability to measure in situ soil water retention curves across a range relevant to plant water uptake. Performance reliability and accuracy of each sensor type were evaluated across different water potential ranges.
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