Soil moisture monitoring system (BUNPD)

Transcription

1 HABIT-CHANGE Soil moisture monitoring system (BUNPD) 12/2012 This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF

2 Output Number: Date: 12/2012 Title: Soil moisture monitoring system (BUNP) Author: Dr. Judit Cservenka Project: Programme: HABIT-CHANGE Adaptive management of climate-induced changes of habitat diversity in protected areas CENTRAL EUROPE Project 2CE168P3 Number: Start date: 3/2010 End date: 2/2013 Lead Partner: Leibniz Institute of Ecological and Regional Development (IOER), Germany Project Partner: University of Vienna, Austria National Academy of Sciences, Scientific Centre for Aerospace Research of the Earth, Ukraine Thuringian State Institute for Forestry, Game and Fishery, Germany Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany Technische Universität Berlin, Germany Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate, Hungary Szent Istvan University, Hungary Biebrza National Park, Poland Environmental Protection Institute, Poland Triglav National Park, Slovenia University of Bucharest, Romania Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Austria Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, Romania SOLINE Pridelava soli d.o.o., Slovenia University of Maribor, Slovenia European Academy Bolzano, Italy Contact: Marco Neubert, Sven Rannow, Further information [2]

3 Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Location of trials 5 3. Methodology 6 4. References and citation 7 This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF [3]

4 1. Introduction The in frame of the establishment of the new meteorological measurement system of the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate one soil moisture recorder was obtained. The FieldScout TDR 300 Soil Moisture Meter manages water responsibly and reduces operating expenses. This portable units accurately measures soil moisture across the full range of soil moisture conditions. According to the desired depth measurement we can select 3.8, 7.5, 12 or 20-cm probe rods. The TDR 300 has two volumetric water content modes; one for standard soils and one for higher clay soils. In volumetric water content (VWC) mode, the meter converts a measured electrical signal into percent soil moisture content using an equation valid over a wide range of mineral soils. In irrigation mode, the meter displays a relative water content (RWC) on a scale of 0 to 100 corresponding to a user-defined upper and lower soil moisture reference level. Water deficit, the amount of water needed to bring the soil moisture content up to the upper reference level, is also calculated and displayed. The reference levels are easily programmed into the meter with the accompanying software. Specifications: Measurement Principle: Time-domain measurement methods Measurement Units: Percent volumetric water content Resolution: 0.1% volumetric water content Accuracy: ±3.0% volumetric water content with electrical conductivity < 2 ms/cm Range: 0% to saturation (Saturation typically around 50% volumetric water) Battery/Life: 4 AAA alkaline batteries; approximately 12-month battery life Data Logger: 3,250 measurements without GPS; 1,350 with GPS/DGPS [4]

5 The selected supplier of the investment was ESTEDE/Measuring Solutions BV. Spectrum Technologies in Europe, Bredeevoortsestraagtweg 101, 7121 BE Aalten ( 2. Location of trials Sásdi meadow investigation area The Sásdi meadow is probably the most endangered lowland wet grass-complex of the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate. It is seriously affected by the impacts of climate change that appears at coenological/microcoenological level. The alkaline fen complex with Orchio-Schoenetum nigricantis still conserved the ice age relict, endemic, strictly protected alpigena subspecies of Primula farinosa that is otherwise a typical alpine species. The meadow suffers from decreasing precipitation during the vegetation period and increasing temperatures especially in May and June. The decreasing groundwater-level significantly alters the structure of the vegetation which has been studied since The regular soil humidity measurements done in the vegetation period can provide a lot of background data to understand the changes occurred. This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF [5]

6 AE AD NAT x x x 7230 x Natura 2000 habitat types in the Sásdi meadow 3. Methodology We follow the investigation method of Csete (in Csete and Salamon-Albert, 2006), the investigation area was separated for different parts that should be managed in a different way. Frequency of sampling, number of samples: K: one measurement after 2 steps, 50 records A: one measurement after 3 steps, 80 records (later it was divided into two parts AE and AD *see the map above) SK: one measurement after 5 steps, 50 records C: one measurement after 5 steps, 50 records M: one measurement after 5 steps, 50 records [6]

7 About the method: we found, that there is no significant difference in the results gained by the 12 cm and 20 cm rods. However the 12 cm long rods are easier to use, so in case of this peaty soil these are appropriate. The measurements should be done at least twice: in the flowering period of Primula farinosa (mid of April beginning of May) and in the time of fruit ripening (end of June beginning of July) depending on weather conditions. Two days have to be waited after raining. The first measurements were done on June 27, Volumetric water content in the soil (%): Area parts/dates: 06/27/ /08/ /09/2012 K 60,3 29,3 20,7 AE 55,2 58,3 26,1 AD 57,8 63,3 30,0 SK 32,4 11,3 13 M 56,2 31,5 20,2 The weather conditions in the summer of 2012 referring to the Sasdi meadow can be checked by the data of the meteorological station established at Szentbékálla (see report Automatic regional climate monitoring (BUNPD)). In case of all the three measurements, the temperature was around 30 C, sunny or partly sunny. 4. References and citation Csete Sándor Salamon-Albert Éva: A fokozottan védett Primula farinosa ssp. alpigena (O.Schwarz) populációinak Nemzeti Biodiverzitás-monitorozó Rendszer szerinti monitorozása és a faj megőrzése szempontjából kiemelten fontos vizsgálatok 2006 Kutatási jelentés Pécs. pp.83 This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF [7]

8 Csete Sándor (2008): A lisztes kankalin (Primula farinosa ssp. alpigena O.SCHW.) hazai populáció-és termőhely-monitorozásának évi eredményei Kutatási jelentés Pécs. pp.55 [8]