SOIL WATER POTENTIAL LAB INSTRUMENTATION

WP4C Soil water potential lab instrumentation

The potential for error when measuring soil water potential

Measuring soil water potential is never easy. Instrumentsrequire constant calibration and don’t measure the dry range. Other sensors are highly inaccurate. That’s why we invented the WP4C.

Simply accurate. Simply fast. Simple to use.

As world experts in water potential and soil suction, it wasn’t enough to engineer an instrument that delivered consistent accuracy. We also designed it to be easy to use and take only minutes to register measurements, even in dry soils.

How a chilled mirror results in stone cold precision

When it comes to soil water, accuracy doesn’t get any more granular. That’s because the WP4C is the only instrument that measures all four components of water potential using fundamental thermodynamics and a finely-tuned calibration. Not only is this a first principles method that every other method gets calibrated off, but it’s also been published extensively.

The WP4C measures water potential by determining the relative humidity of the air above a sample in a sealed chamber (conforms to ASTM 6836). Once the sample comes into equilibrium with the vapor, relative humidity is determined using the chilled mirror method. This involves chilling a tiny mirror until dew starts to form. At the dew point, the WP4C measures both mirror and sample temperature within 0.001 °C. This allows for unparalleled accuracy in the -0.1 MPa to -300 MPa range so you can have full confidence in sample readings.

Measuring soil water potential has never been simple. Until now.

The WP4C is a complex instrument due to its versatility, but extremely easy to use with sample sizes up to 15 ml. Simply fill the cup with soil, leaves or seeds, and then equilibrate the sample. There’s absolutely no change in the measurement for whatever you’re analyzing.

You can even plug WP4C data into HYPROP Data Evaluation Software in order to make a Moisture Release Curve or Soil Water Characteristic Curve.

From 0 to 100% accurate in only 5-7 minutes

The D.I.Y. design of the WP4C is incredibly efficient in a number of of ways. To start, you don’t have to spend time teaching your technicians. Just watch a simple video before you begin making measurements. Similarly, it allows for fast equilibration because of sophisticated temperature control. And a final feature that makes for a total time saver: it makes measurements on its own, so you’re free to attend to other things.

Top marks in soil measurement

Unparalleled accuracy. Simplicity of use. Fast speeds. The WP4C meets the highest of instrumentation standards and more. As a result, it instills complete trust and eliminates confusion, which combine to add up to considerable time savings.

Specifications