Neutron moisture meter : the dependence of their response on soil parameters

Abstract

A multigroup diffusion theory calculation based on a nuclear reactor neutronics code is used to determine the response of a neutron moisture meter to changes in soil parameters such as dry soil density, soil water content, thermal neutron absorption cross-section and neutron scattering crosssection. Empirical equations which fit the results can be used to estimate the response at values of the soil parameters other than those used in the calculations. These equations can also be used to estimate the accuracy with which the parameters must be known to achieve a required accuracy in the derived soil water content.