The characterization of soils according their moisture holding capacities and moisture flow retentioncharacteristics is essential for the development of effective irrigation and plant stress management for the commercial growing of food crops. This is the quintessential basic laboratory equipment needed for scientific determine soil water release / retention curves. Knowing the stress / water relationships directly effects yield and quality of the crop. Being able to predict and manage crop stresses, will determine vitality and vigor. All this comes from knowing when and how to irrigate to achieve optimum yields and crop grades, all this using minimal water and pump time. International corporate growers like Dole, Del Monte know that having a good soil water retention curves for tilled and untilled, mature and young plantings can save them thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a farm lab setup like this.

In determining the soil moisture characteristics can be done using the 023 Lab Set-up with pressure plate extractors and the use of ceramic plates.

The typical 023 Lab Set-up consists of:

• 5 bar extractor
• 15 bar extractor
• A pressure regulating manifold
• A pressure source (compressor)
• 1 Bar, 3 Bar, 5 Bar and 15 Bar ceramic plates. (4 each)
• The equipment is suitable for determination the water retention curves in the range of 0.1 – 15 bar (1.45- 220 PSI) of suction.
•  The most direct, reliable and simple way of changing soil moisture, under controlled conditions, from soil samples without disturbing the soil structure and porosity .