Development of a new end effect probe dedicated to in situ measurements of soil permittivity over a large range of frequencies

Microwave remote sensing has proven to be a powerful tool to provide soil moisture information at large scale. The remote signatures measured at microwave frequency are strongly dependent on the permittivity of soil. This permittivity depends of numerous parameters such as moisture, texture, temperature, frequency or bulk density of soils. Experimental set up permits measurement in laboratory over various conditions, type of soil and range of frequencies. Additional dielectric mixing models (Dobson, Mironov) allow the estimation of soil permittivity over restricted range of conditions. In situ measurement probe based on permittivity properties of soil exist (TDR reflectometry probe, Thetaprobe, capacitive probe). Unfortunately they are not dedicated to the estimation of the permittivity over a large range of frequencies. This study deals with the development at IMS laboratory of an in situ dielectric measurement system based on an end effect probe