Page 53 - bukuneutron

technique, this technique also permit long period mon-
itoring of soil moisture apply for drainage system per-
formance investigation. Therefore, the management
of crops with considering water economy is invaluable
data in the planning of increasing crop yields. Neutron
moisture gauge can be applied in agriculture in several
factors;

1. Relationship of plant growth, soil and water can
be investigated. For example the amount of wa-
ter use by plants. Deficiency of soil moisture when
used by the native plants and the tree growth.

2. Water storage and movement in the soil. The
movement will reduce level of water in the stor-
age shows the situation of unsaturated soil mois-
ture. This will increasing drying rate of water in
the storage. In saturated condition the drying
rate of moisture in soil will reduce and become
important for some agriculture plants. The char-
acteristic of soil that capable to keep and release
water can be obtained from neutron gauges mois-
ture gauge measurement.

3. Moisture in soil indicate the effectiveness of irri-
gation and drainage system. The measurement
of water content by moisture in soil determine
amounts of water used and water applied dur-
ing irrigation and evaluation of effectiveness of
different drainage treatments.

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