MPKit-306B
The MPKit-306 is a complete sensor and meter setup for measurement of volumetric soil moisture for scientific research, agriculture and civil engineering.
The MPKit has set the standard for the most reliable and convenient portable soil moisture sensor, designed for portable and convenient measurement of volumetric soil moisture content in sports fields, irrigation monitoring, mine sites, and landfills. Unlike other portable instruments, the MPKit does not need calibration and is not affected by temperature. Measurements take 3 seconds and can be stored on the MPM160 Hand Held Meter. Stored measurements can be transferred to a computer.
The robust design and quality manufacturing materials leave the MPKit as the most robust portable soil moisture instrument. The sensor needles are stainless steel and are embedded in a reinforced body. The MPKit has been reliably used in the softest soils to the hardest, most stony soils.
The MPKit now has the industry reputation as the go to instrument for portable measurements of soil water content.
It is also used to measure the moisture content in materials used in mining, roadway and buildings. The material that can be measured is often soil but can be any composition of non-metallic powdered, liquid or solid substance into which the needles are inserted. It is especially suitable for mineral stock piles, mine tailings and sand for batch mixing of concrete.
The MP306 Soil Moisture Sensor can also measure soil water potential via the SMM Soil Moisture Meter and a soil water characteristic curve.
The sensors is comprised of a compact body, with needles arranged in a single plane, making it ideal for use in soil columns. It is also ideally suited to measuring pots in glasshouses and growth cabinets; as well as measuring discrete soils layers in soil columns or soil profiles.. The MP306 can also be installed in the field, with a lifespan of more than 20 years in the most extreme conditions.
The MP306 can be used to take continuous measurements over a long period of time through permanent or temporary burial and connection to a SMM Soil Moisture Meter.
MP306 Soil Moisture Sensor Features:
- Volumetric Soil Water Content (%) or can simultaneously measure soil water potential
- Highly accurate and precise
- Robust, stainless steel needles and epoxy body
- Measures in saline, toxic and high temperature soils
- Rapid measurement
- Can be buried for up to 20 years
MP306B Accuracy
The results from measurement of absolute volumetric soil water percent (VSW%) from prepared soil samples using the MP306B are given below. This result is typical of the results obtained from comparative testing of the MP306B in prepared soil samples, for a wide range of agricultural soils. Standing Wave Technology and hence the MP306B are not affected by changes in temperature or salinity of the soil or material being measured and hence the values of VSW% are equivalent to oven dried water content.
MP306B uses the standing wave principle of measurement. It is equivalent to a Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensor without the need for a complex and expensive pulse generator. MP306B is a high accuracy, precision sensor with +/- 1%VWC accuracy following soil-specific calibration and 0.01%VWC resolution.
The MP306B is ideally supported by the SMM Soil Moisture Meter , a wireless, stand-alone logging instrument available from ICT International. With the SMM, MP306 sensors can be individually calibrated for maximum accuracy.
- The SMM can support up to 5 MP306B sensors.
- For complete monitoring solutions, the MP306B is used in combination with the MP406B soil volumetric moisture content sensor, tensiometers for soil water potential, ICTO2 soil oxygen sensor, or the ICT International automatic weather station.
What is Standing Wave?
The standing wave technique uses an oscillator to generate an electrical field in order to detect the dielectric properties of a substrate of interest. The parallel needles of an MP306B act as a coaxial transmission line to generate a signal. The amplitude of the signal is related to the dielectric constant which in turn is directly related to moisture content.
Results
The results from measurement of absolute volumetric soil water percent (VSW%) from prepared soil samples using the MP306B are given below. This result is typical of the results obtained from comparative testing of the MP306B in prepared soil samples, for a wide range of agricultural soils. Standing Wave Technology and hence the MP306 Bare not affected by changes in temperature or salinity of the soil or material being measured and hence the values of VSW% are equivalent to oven dried water content.
Polynomial Look-up Table
Linearisation tables can be added to Data Loggers using the following data:
Converting Data Table for MP-306B. From VSW% to mV & mA in mineral soil
| VSW% | mV MP306B |
|---|---|
| 0% | 120 |
| 5% | 210 |
| 10% | 310 |
| 15% | 415 |
| 20% | 510 |
| 25% | 610 |
| 30% | 720 |
| 35% | 825 |
| 40% | 895 |
| 45% | 955 |
| 50% | 1005 |
| 55% | 1015 |
| 60% | 1025 |
| 65% | 1035 |
| 70% | 1045 |
| 75% | 1055 |
| 80% | 1065 |
| 85% | 1075 |
| 90% | 1085 |
| 95% | 1105 |
| 100% | 1160 |
| MP306B or MP406B Probe | |
| Measurement Range: | 0–100 VSW% (Volumetric Soil Water %) |
| Accuracy: | +/- 1% |
| Response Time: | Less than 0.5 seconds |
| Stabilization Time: | 3 seconds approximately from power-up |
| Environment: | Environmentally sealed, can be permanently buried in the soil. |
| Total length: | 215 mm |
| Needle length: | 60 mm |
| Needle diameter: | 4 mm |
| Needle separation: | 14 mm |
| Needles: | Stainless Steel |
| Exterior: | ABS Plastic |
| Cable: | 4.5 m Standard |
| MPM160 Meter | |
| Analogue input signal range: | 0–1200 mV |
| Resolution: | 0.1 VSW% |
| Display: | 1 line 16 character LCD which displays battery status, reading number, raw mV and calibrated VSW% |
| Keys: | Light touch, field rugged keyboard; Double sided READ key for easy right or left single-handed field use |
| Memory: | 510 Readings E2PROM data storage so data will not be lost if battery is replaced |
| Power Management: | Power Supply – internal common 9V Battery Reading State <= 28 mA (3 secs) Waiting State <= 5 mA (40 secs) Sleeping State <= 1.8 µA |
| Download Cable: | Industry standard RS232 communication 9 pin female connector with supplied download cable Serial to USB Cable |
| Software: | ICT MPM Software, includes graphical interface, graphing capabilities |
| Optional Auger Set | |
| Shell Auger: | 50 mm x 1 m |
| Spiral Auger: | 50 mm x 1 m |
| Extension: | 40 mm x 0.6 m |