GCRF Field Instrumentation

This procurement request relates to laboratory apparatus to measure the soil water release characteristic, and a penetrometer for use in the field. The soil water release characteristic is a fundamental soil physical characteristic that defines the ability of soil to store and transmit water in its pore network. It controls the amount of water the soil can transmit to drainage and the amount that is stored for crops to use. The penetrometer is a field instrument that measures soil strength down the soil profile. Soil strength is an important property as it can change as a function of soil water, and if soils become too strong, then they impede the ability of crop roots to grow, affecting crop yields.