FIELD SCALE PATTERNS OF SOIL WATER STORAGE FROM NON-CONTACTING MEASUREMENTS OF BULK ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

Soil water storage (0–1.7 m) was measured every 10 m in a 660-m-long transect using a neutron probe and compared to bulk electrical conductivity, EC A , measurements obtained using noncontacting electomagnetic induction meters. Coherency analysis indicated a lack of correlation at scales less than 40 m. At scales greater than 40 m, EC A explained more than 80% of the variation of soil water storage. Measurement of EC A should be a simple and fast method of determining general field patterns of soil water storage. Key words: Spatial variability, soil water, coherency, electromagnetic induction