Abstract: Crops for human and animal consumption of many types are well known by their respective growers. Years of experience in the field provide the grower knowledge about a range of conditions that lead to the full spectrum of crop yields and crop quality, and each grower creates a store of knowledge which they can combine with the available measures of those conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively detecting an anion in a medium and/or selectively measuring the concentration of an anion in a medium. The apparatus comprises at least one sensor and a conductive polymer film and is configured such that dielectric and/or electric property changes of the conductive polymer film can be detected by the sensor when the conductive polymer film is in hydraulic contact with the medium or after it has been in hydraulic contact with the medium. Methods of selectively detecting an anion in a medium and/or selectively determining a concentration of an anion in a medium are also provided.

Abstract: An auger useable for creating an opening in the ground for a soil sensor housing wherein the sensor housing has a predetermined volume and a tapered outer surface, includes an auger made in accordance with the methods described and defined in this specification. The auger having a shaft having an outer surface of circular cross-section having an larger outer diameter at one end than the other end and a strip material having a helical shape with an inner wall having a larger inner diameter at one end than the other end of the helical shape wherein the helically shaped material is fixed over the outer diameter of the shaft to form a tapered auger with helical flighting. The volume of the opening created by an auger in the ground will provide a matching volume for a sensor housing of a predetermined volume such that substantially the full length of the tapered outer surface of the sensor is adjacent the ground along the full length/depth of the created opening.

Abstract: This invention relates to probes used in the ground for the collection of data relating to soil conditions and in particular to a construction and method of insertion of probe bodies that will house such probes. A probe body insertion apparatus comprises a tool for forming an opening in the soil using a stabilization device that encourages the excavation of an opening that is orthogonal to the surrounding ground level and which is smaller in diameter than the soil probe body to be inserted. The inserted end of the probe body is formed with a hollow portion having an opening that is downwardly facing and adapted to slice away a portion of the prepared opening. The soil sliced away falls to the base of the prepared opening. The hollow portion of the inserted end of the probe body envelopes the loose soil but allows the probe body to be inserted to the desired depth.

Abstract: A soil parameter measurement arrangement includes a capacitive based soil moisture and salinity sensor, a predetermined moisture migration medium located in a volume adjacent said sensor so that the medium substantially occupies the field of influence of said sensor. The medium is in moisture communication with the soil to be measured, and said sensor is adapted to measure and produce data representative of the volumetric water content of said medium. A sensor data processing means determines both the soil moisture and salinity of said medium. By using the measured volumetric soil moisture content and the moisture release curve of the medium, it is possible to derive the matric potential of the soil. The measured salinity of the medium corresponds to the salinity of the soil that is in moisture communication with the medium.