Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-683-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-683-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Data description paper
| 
23 Mar 2020
Data description paper |
| 23 Mar 2020
| 23 Mar 2020
Soil moisture and matric potential – an open field comparison of sensor systems
Conrad Jackisch
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Chair of Hydrology, Institute of Water Resources and River Basin Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
current address: Department of Landscape Ecology and Environmental Systems Analysis, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Kai Germer
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Thomas Graeff
Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Department IV 2.1, Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Ines Andrä
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Katrin Schulz
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Marcus Schiedung
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Jaqueline Haller-Jans
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Jonas Schneider
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Julia Jaquemotte
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Philipp Helmer
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Leander Lotz
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Andreas Bauer
Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Irene Hahn
Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Martin Šanda
Department of Irrigation, Drainage and Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thakurova 7, 166 29, Prague 6, Czech Republic
Monika Kumpan
Institute for Land and Water Management Research, Federal Agency for Water Management, 3252 Petzenkirchen, Austria
Johann Dorner
Institute for Land and Water Management Research, Federal Agency for Water Management, 3252 Petzenkirchen, Austria
Gerrit de Rooij
Department of Soil System Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
Stefan Wessel-Bothe
ecoTech Umwelt-Meßsysteme GmbH, Nikolausstr. 7, 53129 Bonn, Germany
Lorenz Kottmann
Institute for Crop and Soil Science, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut, Bundesallee 58, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany
Siegfried Schittenhelm
Institute for Crop and Soil Science, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut, Bundesallee 58, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany
Wolfgang Durner
Department of Soil Science and Soil Physics, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Viewed
Total article views: 10,122 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 21 Jun 2019)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,786 | 2,204 | 132 | 10,122 | 132 | 155 |
- HTML: 7,786
- PDF: 2,204
- XML: 132
- Total: 10,122
- BibTeX: 132
- EndNote: 155
Total article views: 8,628 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 23 Mar 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,770 | 1,735 | 123 | 8,628 | 121 | 135 |
- HTML: 6,770
- PDF: 1,735
- XML: 123
- Total: 8,628
- BibTeX: 121
- EndNote: 135
Total article views: 1,494 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 21 Jun 2019)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,016 | 469 | 9 | 1,494 | 11 | 20 |
- HTML: 1,016
- PDF: 469
- XML: 9
- Total: 1,494
- BibTeX: 11
- EndNote: 20
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 10,122 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 9,199 with geography defined
and 923 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 8,628 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 7,982 with geography defined
and 646 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,494 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,217 with geography defined
and 277 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
37 citations as recorded by crossref.
- On the Use of a Water Potential Probe for Suction and Temperature Measurements in Unsaturated Natural Clayey Soil N. Stasi et al. 10.3390/app15063021
- Evaluation of water retention curves in soils with different fines content V. Hernández et al. 10.1007/s12517-022-10189-0
- Building Cross-Site and Cross-Network collaborations in critical zone science B. Arora et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129248
- Experiment and analysis of high water retention coal gangue reconstructed soil in the mining area of the farming-pastoral ecotone in China C. Wu et al. 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109046
- Revisiting Soil Water Potential: Towards a Better Understanding of Soil and Plant Interactions Y. Ma et al. 10.3390/w14223721
- Soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity measured in a wide saturation range T. Hohenbrink et al. 10.5194/essd-15-4417-2023
- Soil total suction sensing using fiber-optic technology J. Guo et al. 10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116687
- Accurate Measurements of Forest Soil Water Content Using FDR Sensors Require Empirical In Situ (Re)Calibration B. De Vos et al. 10.3390/app112411620
- Estimates of tree root water uptake from soil moisture profile dynamics C. Jackisch et al. 10.5194/bg-17-5787-2020
- Robust Soil Water Potential Sensor to Optimize Irrigation in Agriculture D. Menne et al. 10.3390/s22124465
- Estimation of Evapotranspiration Rates and Root Water Uptake Profiles From Soil Moisture Sensor Array Data W. Li et al. 10.1029/2021WR030747
- Calculation of soil water content using dielectric-permittivity-based sensors – benefits of soil-specific calibration B. Zawilski et al. 10.5194/gi-12-45-2023
- Data collection design for calibration of crop models using practical identifiability analysis W. Coudron et al. 10.1016/j.compag.2021.106457
- Toward Optimal Irrigation Management at the Plot Level: Evaluation of Commercial Water Potential Sensors A. Aldaz-Lusarreta et al. 10.3390/s23229255
- Interactive soil moisture interface of multi-depth change over time D. Gallacher et al. 10.1016/j.compag.2022.107508
- SciKit-GStat Uncertainty: A software extension to cope with uncertain geostatistical estimates M. Mälicke et al. 10.1016/j.spasta.2023.100737
- Does afforestation increase soil water buffering? A demonstrator study on soil moisture variability in the Alpine Geroldsbach catchment, Austria R. Molenaar et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131984
- Shielded open-circuited probe for in-situ measurements of soil permittivity in Very high frequency (VHF) and Ultra high frequency (UHF) bands K. Muzalevskiy & A. Karavaysky 10.1177/01423312211037791
- On the pivotal role of water potential to model plant physiological processes T. De Swaef et al. 10.1093/insilicoplants/diab038
- Wi-Fi signal for soil moisture sensing A. Salman et al. 10.1007/s10661-024-13587-x
- Use of synthesised polymers for the development of new osmotic tensiometers H. Liu et al. 10.1680/jgeot.21.00108
- The need to decipher plant drought stress along the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum A. Schweiger et al. 10.1111/oik.10136
- Techniques for ground-based soil moisture measurement: a detailed overview M. Mukhlisin et al. 10.1007/s12517-021-08263-0
- Three years of soil moisture observations by a dense cosmic-ray neutron sensing cluster at an agricultural research site in north-east Germany M. Heistermann et al. 10.5194/essd-15-3243-2023
- Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Composite Porous Media J. Rojas et al. 10.3390/app12189058
- Impact of topography on in situ soil wetness measurements for regional landslide early warning – a case study from the Swiss Alpine Foreland A. Wicki et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-1059-2023
- Deep desiccation of soils observed by long-term high-resolution measurements on a large inclined lysimeter M. Merk et al. 10.5194/hess-25-3519-2021
- Innovative method for installing soil moisture probes in a large‐scale undisturbed gravel lysimeter M. Stevenson et al. 10.1002/vzj2.20106
- Predicting soil hydraulic properties for binary mixtures – concept and application for constructed Technosols M. Willaredt et al. 10.5194/hess-27-3125-2023
- Twelve years of profile soil moisture and temperature measurements in Twente, the Netherlands R. van der Velde et al. 10.5194/essd-15-1889-2023
- A Phase-Dependent Effect That Enables Multi-Scale Moisture Measurements in Heterogeneous Substrates Using Tubular RH Sensors D. Lazik 10.3390/s22103887
- Evaluation of Three Soil Moisture Profile Sensors Using Laboratory and Field Experiments F. Nieberding et al. 10.3390/s23146581
- Wireless Powered Moisture Sensors for Smart Agriculture and Pollution Prevention: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Outlook M. Le et al. 10.1007/s40726-023-00286-3
- A new experimental setup for the determination of drying soil–water characteristic curve and coefficient of permeability using the continuous evaporation method and osmotic tensiometers Y. Zhao et al. 10.1016/j.sandf.2024.101470
- Interpretability of negative latent heat fluxes from eddy covariance measurements in dry conditions S. Paulus et al. 10.5194/bg-21-2051-2024
- Establishing SI-traceable on-site calibration of point scale soil moisture sensors E. Klahn et al. 10.1016/j.measen.2024.101523
- Soil moisture and matric potential – an open field comparison of sensor systems C. Jackisch et al. 10.5194/essd-12-683-2020
36 citations as recorded by crossref.
- On the Use of a Water Potential Probe for Suction and Temperature Measurements in Unsaturated Natural Clayey Soil N. Stasi et al. 10.3390/app15063021
- Evaluation of water retention curves in soils with different fines content V. Hernández et al. 10.1007/s12517-022-10189-0
- Building Cross-Site and Cross-Network collaborations in critical zone science B. Arora et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129248
- Experiment and analysis of high water retention coal gangue reconstructed soil in the mining area of the farming-pastoral ecotone in China C. Wu et al. 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109046
- Revisiting Soil Water Potential: Towards a Better Understanding of Soil and Plant Interactions Y. Ma et al. 10.3390/w14223721
- Soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity measured in a wide saturation range T. Hohenbrink et al. 10.5194/essd-15-4417-2023
- Soil total suction sensing using fiber-optic technology J. Guo et al. 10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116687
- Accurate Measurements of Forest Soil Water Content Using FDR Sensors Require Empirical In Situ (Re)Calibration B. De Vos et al. 10.3390/app112411620
- Estimates of tree root water uptake from soil moisture profile dynamics C. Jackisch et al. 10.5194/bg-17-5787-2020
- Robust Soil Water Potential Sensor to Optimize Irrigation in Agriculture D. Menne et al. 10.3390/s22124465
- Estimation of Evapotranspiration Rates and Root Water Uptake Profiles From Soil Moisture Sensor Array Data W. Li et al. 10.1029/2021WR030747
- Calculation of soil water content using dielectric-permittivity-based sensors – benefits of soil-specific calibration B. Zawilski et al. 10.5194/gi-12-45-2023
- Data collection design for calibration of crop models using practical identifiability analysis W. Coudron et al. 10.1016/j.compag.2021.106457
- Toward Optimal Irrigation Management at the Plot Level: Evaluation of Commercial Water Potential Sensors A. Aldaz-Lusarreta et al. 10.3390/s23229255
- Interactive soil moisture interface of multi-depth change over time D. Gallacher et al. 10.1016/j.compag.2022.107508
- SciKit-GStat Uncertainty: A software extension to cope with uncertain geostatistical estimates M. Mälicke et al. 10.1016/j.spasta.2023.100737
- Does afforestation increase soil water buffering? A demonstrator study on soil moisture variability in the Alpine Geroldsbach catchment, Austria R. Molenaar et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131984
- Shielded open-circuited probe for in-situ measurements of soil permittivity in Very high frequency (VHF) and Ultra high frequency (UHF) bands K. Muzalevskiy & A. Karavaysky 10.1177/01423312211037791
- On the pivotal role of water potential to model plant physiological processes T. De Swaef et al. 10.1093/insilicoplants/diab038
- Wi-Fi signal for soil moisture sensing A. Salman et al. 10.1007/s10661-024-13587-x
- Use of synthesised polymers for the development of new osmotic tensiometers H. Liu et al. 10.1680/jgeot.21.00108
- The need to decipher plant drought stress along the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum A. Schweiger et al. 10.1111/oik.10136
- Techniques for ground-based soil moisture measurement: a detailed overview M. Mukhlisin et al. 10.1007/s12517-021-08263-0
- Three years of soil moisture observations by a dense cosmic-ray neutron sensing cluster at an agricultural research site in north-east Germany M. Heistermann et al. 10.5194/essd-15-3243-2023
- Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Composite Porous Media J. Rojas et al. 10.3390/app12189058
- Impact of topography on in situ soil wetness measurements for regional landslide early warning – a case study from the Swiss Alpine Foreland A. Wicki et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-1059-2023
- Deep desiccation of soils observed by long-term high-resolution measurements on a large inclined lysimeter M. Merk et al. 10.5194/hess-25-3519-2021
- Innovative method for installing soil moisture probes in a large‐scale undisturbed gravel lysimeter M. Stevenson et al. 10.1002/vzj2.20106
- Predicting soil hydraulic properties for binary mixtures – concept and application for constructed Technosols M. Willaredt et al. 10.5194/hess-27-3125-2023
- Twelve years of profile soil moisture and temperature measurements in Twente, the Netherlands R. van der Velde et al. 10.5194/essd-15-1889-2023
- A Phase-Dependent Effect That Enables Multi-Scale Moisture Measurements in Heterogeneous Substrates Using Tubular RH Sensors D. Lazik 10.3390/s22103887
- Evaluation of Three Soil Moisture Profile Sensors Using Laboratory and Field Experiments F. Nieberding et al. 10.3390/s23146581
- Wireless Powered Moisture Sensors for Smart Agriculture and Pollution Prevention: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Outlook M. Le et al. 10.1007/s40726-023-00286-3
- A new experimental setup for the determination of drying soil–water characteristic curve and coefficient of permeability using the continuous evaporation method and osmotic tensiometers Y. Zhao et al. 10.1016/j.sandf.2024.101470
- Interpretability of negative latent heat fluxes from eddy covariance measurements in dry conditions S. Paulus et al. 10.5194/bg-21-2051-2024
- Establishing SI-traceable on-site calibration of point scale soil moisture sensors E. Klahn et al. 10.1016/j.measen.2024.101523
1 citations as recorded by crossref.
Latest update: 24 May 2025
Short summary
Soil water content and matric potential are central hydrological state variables. A large variety of automated probes and sensor systems for field monitoring exist. In a field experiment under idealised conditions we compared 15 systems for soil moisture and 14 systems for matric potential. The individual records of one system agree well with the others. Most records are also plausible. However, the absolute values of the different measuring systems span a very large range of possible truths.
Soil water content and matric potential are central hydrological state variables. A large...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint