HARMONISATION OF DIFFERENT MEASURING METHODS OF SOIL MOISTURE USED IN ŽITNÝ OSTROV (SK) AND SZIGETKÖZ (HU)

Different methods for the soil water content measurement (neutron probe, capacitance sensors, etc.) can provide actual data for the state of soil moisture (Kordík and Lichner, 1996). Based on this data different levels of sufficient water can be described (field capacity, availability, and wilting point). In order to compare data of various soil moisture measurement instruments it is mandatory to evaluate the accuracy of each method. In practice neutron probe is applied as the most accurate instrument, however due to its radiation work safety rules question the long-term applicability of such instruments. This article reports the comparison of three methods: neutron probe, capacity method and a so-called I-sensor. Since soil moisture measurement methods differ on the Hungarian and Slovakian side of the Danube, data comparison can lead to disagreements on soil moisture level. For the above-mentioned reason introduction of a new measurement method could be justified.