Most physical and chemical properties of soil vary with moisture content. Measurement of soil water content is needed in every type of soil study. Measuring and monitoring moisture content for soil helps to determine trends in soil moisture content with time, conditions for building structures, when to irrigate soil, depth of wetting, etc.

A rapid moisture meter is an instrument used for quick determination of moisture content of materials in powder form viz. soil, sand, coal pottery slip, cement, etc. Calcium carbide when comes in contact with moisture, acetylene gas is generated. This principle is used in Rapid moisture meter.

Specifications

The entire equipment consists of :

• A pressure vessel with clamp for sealing cap
• Rubber sealing gasket
• Pressure gauge calibrated in percentage moisture content 0-25% x 0.25% on the wet weight basis
• A counter poised balance for weighing sample
• A scoop for measuring carbide reagent
• One cleaning brush & a set of 4 steel balls

Methods used for measuring soil moisture

Commonly used methods to measure soil moisture content include :

• Tensiometer
• Electrical resistance blocks
• Neutron moisture meter

More recently, dielectric sensors have been developed that determine the soil moisture content based on the dielectric constant of the soil.

Besides these, several other methods are also available to measure soil moisture content like :

• Direct measurement of soil moisture content involves removal of water from a sample of soil by evaporation, leaching or chemical reaction.
• Indirect methods involve measurement some property of soil, which is affected by moisture content of the soil. With the help of indirect methods property of some other object placed in the soil can also be determined.
• Remote measurement methods include both non-contact methods and measurement from a great distance. Remote sensing of soil water content depends on the measurement of electromagnetic energy that has either been reflected or emitted from the soil surface.

Application

Rapid moisture finds application in various fields. Some of them are:

• Highway Material Testing
• Civil Engineering
• Geological Testing
• Research Laboratories