Calibração do sensor de umidade do solo DSMM500 em latossolo vermelho distrófico

Abstract

The use of soil moisture sensors is an important tool in irrigation management, however due to the physical variability of the soil it requires local calibrations in order to increase its accuracy. Thus, this study aimed to calibrate the General Tools DSMM500 sensor for a clayey dystrophic Red Latosol to support irrigation management. Samples of undisturbed soil were collected in cylinders with dimensions of 0.07m in diameter and 0.3m in length, at depths of 0.00-0.30; 0.30-0.60 and 0.60-0.90 m. After drying the samples to constant weight, the soil density was determined. The soil sample was unstructured and 1 cm³ of water was gradually added to each 20 cm³ of soil, homogenized and read with the DSMM500 sensor and compared with gravimetric humidity. The soil moisture sensor DSMM500, General Tools, presents good accuracy in reading the moisture from the Red Latosol, and the use of the adjustment equation for each type of soil and different densities maximizes the accuracy of the apparatus.