Cyber Times International Journal of Technology & Management

Most of the physical and chemical characteristics of soil vary with of amount of moisture present. Determination of soil moisture is needed in every type of soil study like hydrology, agrology, plant science, forester, soils engineering and civil engineering. The amount of moisture in the soil has been of great interest in agriculture from the past. This paper presents review of the different eight methods for measurement of soil moisture and describes the principle used, methodology, advantages, disadvantages and comparison. Described methods are Gravimetric method, Neutron moderation (NM), Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR), Frequency Domain Reflectometer (FDR), Amplitude Domain Reflectometer (ADR), Phase Transmission (PT), Time Domain Transmission (TDT) and Tensiometer method. Soil moisture content is normally described as a dimensionless ratio of two masses or two volumes. Prediction of soil moisture on a volume basis involves evaluating mass basis figures first. When mass basis figures are found, volume basis figures are evaluated using bulk density. Considering the change in soil type, some error always involved in determining the bulk density. The soil moisture can also be described as a depth as if it were accumulated in a layer. A depth of water is basically used in agriculture.