EDAFOLOGÍA, Vol. 8 (3), pp. 1-10, 2001
UTILIDAD DE LA TÉCNICA TDR PARA LA MEDIDA DE LA VARIACIÓN ESPACIAL Y TEMPORAL DE LA HUMEDAD DEL SUELO ENCAMPOS DE GOLF
J. C. TAPIAS PANTEBRE*, M. SALGOT DE MARÇAY* y A. CASAS PONSATI***
* Laboratorio de Edafología. Departamento de Productos Naturales Biología Vegetal yEdafología. Facultad de Farmacia,Universidad de Barcelona. Avda. Joan XXIII s/n. 08028Barcelona
**Departamento de Geoquímica,Petrología y Prospección Geológica. Facultad de Geología,Universidad de Barcelona. Martí i Franquès s/n. 08028 Barcelona
Abstract. Golf courses are often blamed to consume water in excess for the irrigation of the grasscover.To amend this image golf course managers should reduce water consumption using all the available technical improvements. The best way to establish soil water needs is by controlling systematicallythe soil moisture variations at different zones of the course. Among the methods available,the timedomain reflectometry (TDR) technique is that offers the best perspectives because the relationship existing between the dielectric permittivity and the soil moisture content. In this paper we present the resultsobtained from the calibration of the TDR method to sands having a texture and composition as recommended by the USGA,as well as the application of this technique to measure both spatial and temporalvariability of soil water content at different zones in two golf courses and their incidence in schedulingthe irrigation needs. The results obtained show that TDR method provides accurate and fast measurementswith the possibility to get automate and continuous digital readings as required in golf courses management.
Key words:Time domain reflectometry (TDR),soil moisture,volumetric humidity,dielectric permittivity,soil-water relationship,golf courses.