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 omega 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.
calibration; time domain reflectometry; soil water content
