NEUTRON RANDOM COUNTING ERROR IN TERMS OF SOIL MOISTURE FOR NONLINEAR CALIBRATION CURVES

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Abstract
Two equations are propounded for estimating the random counting error in terms of soil moisture for the neutron scattering method of soil moisture measurement. Both are independent of the linearity of the calibration curve. The 1st deals with a calibration in terms of count rate against moisture content, while the 2nd deals with the case where count rate ratio (count rate divided by standard count rate) is plotted against moisture content. The equations are used to ascertain the minimum count or counting time necessary to ensure a known acceptable maximum random counting error in terms of soil moisture volume fraction.