Lucas Melo Vellame

Desempenho de modelos de calibração de guias de onda acopladas a TDR e a multiplexadores em três tipos de solos

The study aimed at evaluating of calibration models for two kinds of TDR waveguides used with Trase System and TDR 100 equipments linked to the cable tester or the multiplexer. Disturbed samples of three soils were packed in PVC columns and, after soil saturation, two TDR waveguides of three rods with capacitor and with resistor were inserted into the soil columns. The waveguides were connected to two TDR equipments (Trase System and TDR 100), directly to the cable tester or a multiplexer. Soil water content data by gravimetry were collected during the drying process from saturation to values close to the lowest limit of water availability. The readings were performed with TDR probes connected to the cable tester and the multiplexer. A mathematical model was fitted to the bulk dielectric constant (e) and water content data (q) and the performance of five models to obtain q as a function of e was evaluated. Results showed that there was no significant difference between the TDR Trase System capacitor waveguide calibration connected either directly to the water content analyzer or the multiplexer channel. In case of TDR 100 using waveguides with resistor, the calibration has to be performed according to the connection of the waveguide to the water content analyzer or the multiplexer channel. The cubic calibration model performed best, followed by the Roth model, which estimated the values of bulk dielectric constant and water content well with a closer to 0.5 for waveguides with capacitor than for waveguides with resistor.

Transpiração de plantas jovens de laranjeira 'valência' sob porta-enxerto limão'cravo' e citrumelo 'swingle' em dois tipos de solo

The total citrus area irrigated in Brazil has increased over the decades. The main cause of this increasing is due to the use of rootstocks tolerant to Citrus Sudden Death however they are less tolerant to drought than Rangpur lime. This research aims to study the influence of rootstock and soil type on transpiration of young plants of Valencia orange. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Department of Biosystems Engineering, ESALQ / USP. Orange seedlings were planted in boxes of 500 L. It was determined simultaneously sweating of 20 plants through thermal dissipation probes (sap flow). It was monitored solar radiation, relative humidity and air temperature sensors were installed to 2 m tall at the center of the greenhouse. The reference evapotranspiration (EToPM) was calculated by the standard method suggested by FAO. According to these results it is concluded that plant transpiration of Valencia oranges are influenced not only by the type of rootstock but also by leaf area growth and phenological stage, and its relationship with EToPM is not linear in the whole range of evaporative demand of the atmosphere.

Sonda de TDR para estimativa da umidade e condutividade elétrica do solo, com uso de multiplexadores

This work had as objective the characterization and the evaluation of TDR probes for estimating soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity. The probes were built to be used directly with the TDR 100 or to be connected to multiplexers. The probes were evaluated for two kinds and various lengths (4 to 19 m) of co-axial cables. The K parameters of Giese-Tieman equation and the probe impedance were determined. The TDR probes were tested for different soil electrical conductivity, under different soil water contents and temperatures. The use of a resistor of 15 W connecting the inner wire to the central rod of the TDR probe is necessary for estimating soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity by TDR. The co-axial cable of larger grounding mesh thickness and larger inner wire diameter was most adequate for use with the TDR probes. The use of multiplexers and co-axial cables up to 13 m length (from TDR to the probe) did not affect significantly water content estimates. The TDR probes of 0.10 and 0.15 m length performed quite well in estimating soil electrical conductivity up to 1.0 dS m-1.

Uncertainty of weight measuring systems applied to weighing lysimeters

Abstract The determination of measurement reliability in weighing lysimeters via error analysis is essential for scientific research and irrigation management. The objective of this study was to evaluate four different weight measuring systems (MSs) applied to load cell weighing lysimeters and compare the results with the expected uncertainty values obtained from data provided by manufacturers. A weighing lysimeter with an area of 0.385 m2 and a volume of 0.289 m3 was used, installed on three load cells. In MS1, the load cells were connected to a junction box and the box to a weighing indicator module in a six-wire configuration. In MS2, a four-wire connection was used between the junction box and a datalogger, whereas in MS3, there was a six-wire connection. For MS4, the connection between the load cells and datalogger was direct. The uncertainties of the measurement systems were determined from the calibration results. MS1 presented the lowest measurement errors and uncertainties, resulting in performance superior to those of the other MSs. After MS1, the best performances were obtained by MS2 and MS3, and MS4 presented the worst performance. The effect of the signal measurement uncertainties and the excitation by the datalogger had the greatest effects on the overall uncertainty of the system compared with the influence of temperature on the load cells. The measurement system may be selected according to the technical data supplied by the manufacturer; however, periodic calibration of the effective measuring range is necessary to verify and compensate for systematic errors, which are accentuated during the operation time.

Effect of partial soil wetting on transpiration, vegetative growth and root system of young orange trees

The wetted area fraction is a factor critical to the success of drip irrigation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of partial soil wetting on transpiration, vegetative growth and root system of young orange trees. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse where plants were grown in 0.5 m3boxes internally divided into compartments. The wetting of 12 % of soil area was tested on two types of soil cultivated with ‘Valencia’ orange trees grafted onto Rangpur lime and ‘Swingle’ citrumelo rootstocks. Transpiration was determined in 40 plants. Water extraction and root density were evaluated in the compartments. Transpiration is reduced by restriction in wetted soil area, and such reduction is influenced by the number of days after the beginning of partial irrigation, atmospheric evaporative demand and plant phenological stage. Mean transpiration of plants with partial irrigation was equivalent to 84 % of the mean transpiration of plants with 100 % of wetted soil area in the period studied. However, after 156 days of imposing partial irrigation there was no difference in transpiration between treatments. Plant acclimation was caused by an increase in root concentration in the irrigated area. After a period of acclimation, if the entire root system is wetted, soil water extraction becomes proportional to the percentage of wetted area after a short period of time. Despite the reduction in transpiration, there was no difference between treatments with 12 % and 100 % of wetted soil area in terms of vegetative growth.