Delmhorst Instrument KS-D1 - Manual (Page 6)

OPERATING PROCEDURE
1
To check the meter calibration:
Press the
CAL CHK button. The meter should read
80.0 ± 1.0.
Note: Instrument serial numbers from 0100-0584
require pressing both
READ and CAL CHK
buttons simultaneously.
2
To “read” the blocks:
h Push the tinned ends of the lead wires of the block
into two springloaded binding posts on the meter.
h Press the READ button and record the reading on
the Soil Moisture Observation Chart.
h NOTE: Only readings between 5.0 and 100.0 are
valid. Readings outside of this range should be
disregarded.
INTERPRETATION OF METER
READINGS
h Meter readings are interpreted in terms of
“Soil Moisture Tension,” or “Blocks Resistance”
by referring to figure 1 and 1A; in terms of
“available soil moisture” by referring to figure 2.
h The data in the chart below provides guidelines of
“Available Moisture” and “Irrigation Requirements”
for three groups of soil in terms of their texture
make-up.
h Since soils are not strictly divided into three groups
only, but changes from “fine” to “coarse” soil are
gradual, the information below should be used as a
guideline. Consideration should be given to other
factors such as:
Type of crop;
Stage of crop growth and root system;
Climactic conditions;
Structure of sub-soil.
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