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Gypsum Blocks
Soil Moisture Sensor
Gypsum block sensors are an inexpensive, hassle- and maintenance- free alternative to tensiometers and have been widely used for measuring soil moisture tension throughout the world for decades.
MEA uses two types of gypsum block sensors, GBLite and GBHeavy to cater to particular soil profile and irrigation needs. Generally, GBLites are the standard sensor of choice but where deficit irrigation is required or the soil is poor draining, as is the case with heavy clays, GBHeavys are used.
All gypsum block sensors are quickly and easily installed by inserting and burying in a hole augered to the required depth.
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Gypsum Block Brochure
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GDot
Soil Moisture Display Unit
The GDot is a simple, robust, highly visible device which displays soil moisture tension from a sensor buried in the crop's root zone.
When the soil is very wet and it's easy for the roots to access water, the GDot shows a full complement of seven yellow dots. As the soil dries out, the plants have to work harder and the yellow dots disappear. When only a few dots remain, most horticultural crops are on their way to experiencing water stress, and that's the cue to irrigate.
It's that simple, just sit back and watch the dots!
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GDot Brochure
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Visit the GDot website
GBug & GTBug
Soil Moisture Loggers
The GBug is a low cost, continuously recording, soil moisture monitoring system that can give you a comprehensive picture of soil moisture in the root zone and throughout the soil profile. Readings of soil moisture tension are taken automatically every 2 hours and stored in the GBug which can hold up to 20 days worth of measurements.
The logged data is quickly and easily collected and can be viewed in-field or downloaded to a computer for more thorough analysis.
The GTBug monitors soil temperature as well as soil moisture.
• GBug & GTBug Brochure
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MEARadio
Soil Moisture System
MEARadio is a versatile system which facilitates the simple and efficient collection of large amounts of soil moisture data. A complete system can log up to 38 different sites simultaneously, with a maximum capacity of 152 individual sensors. Each site (or Field Station) uses radio to transmit logged soil moisture data back to a central Base Station. The Field Station sites can be placed up to 3 km from the Base Station (in certain locations this can be exceeded). The Base Station contains a NextG modem allowing direct dial-in access for data retrieval.
MEARadio can act as a stand alone system or can be integrated into an Automatic Weather Station allowing the combined analysis of both climate and soil moisture data.
SML
Soil Moisture System
SML is an MEA Data Logger solution custom designed to capture measurements from the complete range of MEA soil moisture sensors where an 'off the shelf' product does not exist.
As an example, MEA recently built an SML incorporating 4 Theta Probes, 4 GBLite sensors and a Rain Gauge for Kondinin Information Services, as part of their Dryland Soil Moisture Monitoring project. Data from this system, installed near Tichborne in NSW, can be seen here.
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