TenTek Tensiometers

  • NZ Made.
  • For precise, direct measurement of soil moisture conditions for all crops.
  • No calibration required.
  • Inexpensive.
  • Low maintenance.
  • Direct reading dial gauge, rubber mounted with resettable zero point & depth label.
  • Supplied individually tested & primed.
  • Standard lengths (mm) 150,300,450 & 600.
  • Custom lengths available.
  • Hi visibility UV resistant stems.
  • Fully serviceable tips, gauges, stoppers & sight tubes.
  • Warranty: One year from date of purchase.
  • Return to base, repair or replacement.

Interpretation of Tensiometer Readings

*Dial Reading
Centibars Interpretation
Nearly Saturated 0
10		 Near saturated soil often occurs for a day or two following irrigation. Danger of water-logged soils, a high water table, poor soil aeration, or the tensiometer may have broken tension, if readings persist.
Field Capacity 11
20
30		 Field capacity. Irrigations discontinued in this range to prevent waste by deep percolation and leaching of nutrients below the root zone. Sandy soils will be at field capacity in the lower range; clayey soil at field capacity in the upper range.
Irrigation Range 40
50
60		 Usual range for starting irrigations. Soil aeration is assured in this range. In general, irrigations start at readings of 30-40 in sandy textured soils (loamy sandy and sandy loams). Irrigations usually start from 40-50 on loamy soils, (very fine sandy loams and silt loams). On clay soils (silty clay loamy, silty clays, etc.) irrigations usually start from 50-60. Starting irrigations in this range ensures maintaining readily available soil moisture at all times.
Dry 70
80		 This is stress range. However, crop not necessarily damaged or yield reduced. Some soil moisture is readily available to the plant but is getting dangerously low for maximum production. Top range of accuracy of tensiometer readings above this are possible but the tensiometer will break tension between 80 to 85 centibars.

* Indicative of soil conditions where the tensiometer is located. Judgement should be used to correlate these readings to general crop conditions in the field.

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