Measuring soil roughness changes with an ultrasonic profiler
Robichaud, P.R.; Molnau, M. 1990.
Measuring soil roughness changes with an ultrasonic profiler.
Transactions ASAE 33(6): 1851-1858.
Keywords: random roughness, surface change, tillage
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Abstract:
A non-contact ultrasonic profiler was developed to
measure soil surface roughness. The profiler has a vertical
accuracy of ± 3 mm, a horizontal resolution of 30 mm, and
detects the highest point in a 2040 mm^ ± 1 6 0 mm^
circular scan area. The profiler provides a convenient, noncontact
means of accurately determining surface roughness
parameters.
Surface elevations were measured to evaluate changes
in random roughness of three tillage treatments (chisel
plow, moldboard plow, and field cultivator) with simulated
rainfall. Random roughness decreased with rainfall.
Consolidation of 30 to 50 mm occurred on all three
treatments. Horizontal soil movement occurred on the
chisel and moldboard treatments from the tillage tool
ridges to the furrows. A decrease of approximately 60 mm
of total relief was observed with soil lost from the ridges
being deposited into the furrow. However, no such
movement was observed in the field cultivator treatment.
These results were consistent with earlier results obtained
using a manually operated profiler.
Moscow FSL publication no. 1990d
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