HR: 1340h
AN: H53G-1506    [Abstracts]
TI: Field-Scale Distributed Wireless Network for Monitoring Dynamic Hydrologic Processes
AU: * Campbell, C S
EM: colin@decagon.com
AF: Decagon Devices, Inc., 2365 Hopkins Ct, Pullman, WA 99163, United States
AU: Crupper, J
EM: jccrupper@yahoo.com
AF: Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University PO Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
AU: Brown, D J
EM: david_brown@wsu.edu
AF: Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University PO Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
AU: Cobos, D R
EM: doug@decagon.com
AF: Decagon Devices, Inc., 2365 Hopkins Ct, Pullman, WA 99163, United States
AU: Campbell, G S
EM: gaylon@decagon.com
AF: Decagon Devices, Inc., 2365 Hopkins Ct, Pullman, WA 99163, United States
AU: Uberuaga, D
EM: duberuaga@wsu.edu
AF: Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University PO Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
AU: Huggins, D R
EM: dhuggins@wsu.edu
AF: USDA-ARS, USDA-ARS Washington State University 215 Johnson Hall, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
AU: Smith, J L
EM: jlsmith@mail.wsu.edu
AF: USDA-ARS, USDA-ARS Washington State University 215 Johnson Hall, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
AU: Gill, R A
EM: rgill@wsu.edu
AF: Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University PO Box 642812, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
AB: Measuring and monitoring field-scale hydrology is important to understanding the fate of water in the vadoze zone, especially in concert with pedological information. Historically, single point measurements of hydrologic and pedological information have been straightforward to obtain, while monitoring widely distributed locations over time has been more challenging, both in expense and labor. As radios have become more available, distributed wireless networks have been developed and constructed to meet this need. However, there remain relatively few commercially available, inexpensive, and simple options. The objective of this study was to test the viability of a distributed wireless network to monitor soil parameters (moisture, temperature, and electrical conductivity) across a growing season on the 36.5 hectare Cook Agronomy Farm in Eastern Washington. Using landscape analysis, 12 representative sites were selected using a stratified random procedure and sensors were installed at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 cm depths. Radio frequency wireless transmitters linked sensors to a central data station where data were made available anywhere in the world via a cell modem link. Data were analyzed to show relationships between soil features, crop type, and water use. Results show that a system can be assembled from commercially available components with excellent reliability across all communication links. Data from the system showed correlations between water use, directly sampled static soil features and crop type.
DE: 1849 Numerical approximations and analysis
DE: 1852 Plant uptake
DE: 1866 Soil moisture
DE: 1876 Water budgets
DE: 1895 Instruments and techniques: monitoring
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting