Method for remote measurement of specific conductivity and moisture of subsurface soil horizons

Abstract

The aim of the research is to develop a radar method for determining the physical and chemical parameters of subsurface soil horizons, providing rapid determination of moisture and specific conductivity in the area of the plant root system. The proposed method is based on a set of Fresnel equations which describe reflection of electromagnetic waves from the interface between dielectric media in vertical and horizontal polarization of the probing signal. For the practical implementation of the method, it is proposed to use two unmanned aerial vehicles that form a bistatic radar system which irradiates the Earth's surface obliquely in order to create the Brewster's effect and increase the fraction of the radio signal reflected from subsurface horizons. The percentage of moisture and the specific conductivity of soil are calculated from the measured values of the imaginary part of the complex permittivity. The required accuracy of moisture and conductivity measurements is achieved by two-step calibration of the measuring device. The values of the moisture content and specific conductivity of soil obtained by radar at a frequency of 469 MHz are in good agreement with the results of measuring these parameters using the soil moisture meter TDR 150 Spectrum Technologies, Inc.