Product Manual

Page 2 - www.turf-tec.com
EC Meter Instructions - ECM-1-N
Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of your Field Scout Soil & Water EC Meter. This
instrument has been specifically designed for direct measurement of salts in soil media as
well as water or nutrient solutions. This manual describes how to use your meter and
keep it working accurately for many years. Please read it thoroughly to get effective
performance from your meter.
The salinity of the soil solution, irrigation water or fertilizer solution is an important
parameter affecting the root zone environment. Any of these factors can have a
significant affect on plant growth and physiology. The easiest way to monitor salinity is
by measuring the electrical conductivity (EC). EC is strongly correlated to the salinity of
the soil solution. EC measurement is also affected by temperature and, to a lesser degree,
by soil moisture content.
Use this portable EC meter and probe to measure salinity directly in the soil right on the
spot without tedious soil sampling and preparation. Turf managers can monitor for high
salt levels on golf course greens and athletic fields and determine when to flush (leach)
salts before turf quality declines.
The meter comes with the Field Scout Soil/Water EC probe. This single, stainless steel
probe has a specially designed conical tip. It can measure liquid EC (water or nutrient
solutions) or in-situ soil salinity. The probe automatically compensates for temperature.
EC Probe
Electrical conductivity (EC) is an important parameter in evaluating irrigation water and
fertilizer solutions. Crops can be damaged if irrigated with
water with a high conductivity. The quality of irrigation water
has been classified into 5 separate categories (See Appendix 1).
EC is also an indicator of the strength of fertilizer solutions. In
greenhouse applications and other situations requiring frequent
fertilization, EC should be checked regularly to ensure the
plants are getting sufficient nutrients while avoiding the effects
of salt toxicity. See Appendix 2 for a list of preferred EC
values for some common turfgrasses. Typically, younger
plants will require lower EC than mature plants.