For appropriate nutrient management and enhanced plant growth, soil sensors which reflect soil nutrient levels are required. Because there is no available sensor for nutrient monitoring, electrical conductivity (EC) sensor can be used to evaluate soil nutrient levels. Soil nutrient management using EC sensors would be possible by understanding the relationship between sensor EC values and soil temperature, moisture, and nutrient content. However, the relationship between soil sensor EC values and plant available nutrients was not investigated. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to evaluate effect of different amount of urea on soil EC monitored by sensors during pepper and broccoli cultivation and to predict the plant available nutrient contents in soil. During the cultivation period, soil was collected periodically for analyzing pH and EC, and the available nutrient contents. The sensor EC value increased as the moisture content increased, and low fertilizer treated soil showed the lowest EC value. Principal component analysis was performed to determine the relationship between sensor EC and available nutrients in soil. Sensor EC showed a strong positive correlation with nitrate nitrogen and available Ca. In addition, sum of available nutrients such as Ca, Mg, K, P, S and N was positively related to the sensor EC values. Therefore, EC sensors in open field can be used to predict plant available nutrient levels for proper management of the soil.

본 연구에서는 TDR의 반향파의 특성과 총토양전기전도도의 관계를 이용한 비포화 토양에서의 용존오염원 농도를 측정하는 방법을 개발하였다. 본 연구에서 제안한 방법은 두 가지 중요한 관계를 결합한 것으로 첫 번째는 함수량이 일정할 경우 전기전도도와 토양수 농도는 선형관계를 유지한다는 것이며, 두 번째는 천이상태의 용존여염원의 농도를 측정할 수 있게 하기 위해 함수량과 전기전도도의 관계를 설정하는 것이다. 함수량과 전기전도도의 관계를 추정하는 식들이 여러 연