Campbell Scientific Sentek EasyAG Installation Guide v 3.0 - Manual (Page 35)

Troubleshooting the preferred installation method
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Troubleshooting the preferred installation method
A few known factors may cause anomalies in the data obtained from the EasyAG probes.
The data itself gives the best indication of a potential problem.
Good versus poor installation
The aim of any installation is to cause as little disruption to the normal soil structure as
possible, and provide an environment where the soil moisture may be detected repeatedly
and accurately over an extended period of time.
If the surrounding soil is disturbed during the installation process, then air gaps may form
down the side of the tube, which can lead to preferential flow of water between the soil and
the access tube. Water will travel deeper than in the surrounding soil, leading to a misleading
representation of water movement in the soil. The figure below shows preferential flow of
water down the side of the access tube, where the wetting front moves to the bottom sensor
almost instantaneously.
The movement of wetting front should match the hydraulic properties of the soil, such as
shown in the example below.