Final Conversion

Finding Soil Moisture

After correcting the signal of the CRNS and determining N0 through a calibration campaign, the soil moisture estimates can be computed using a processing equation. The most widely used is the advanced Desilets et al., (2010) equation. This utilizes the correction factors, N0 number alongside some site parameters/modelling coefficients to convert the neutron counting rate of the CRNS into volumetric soil moisture.

It is important to recognise that CRNS is an evolving discipline. Research into the data processing methodology is ongoing, with the frequent release of new computational methods, offering diverging advantages such as accuracy or simplicity. This presents a challenge to developing relevant and wide-reaching processing tools as there is a lack of homogenised techniques and "common practice" in the community. For now it is hence important for processing tools like crspy-lite to be regularly updated as this new research is conducted, to maintain their relevancy and usefulness to users. One example of this is the Köhli et al., (2021) processing equation, which offers an alternative formulation to the Desilets et al., (2010) method. Crspy-lite therefore includes both methodologies so that users may select whichever is there preference.

For further details on both of the processing equations described above, click on the citation to view the original publications.