Neutron probe
A neutron probe is a device used to measure the quantity of water present in soil.
A typical neutron probe contains a pellet of americium-241 and beryllium. The alpha particles emitted by the decay of the americium collide with the light beryllium nuclei, producing fast neutrons. When these fast neutrons collide with hydrogen nuclei present in the soil being studied, they lose much of their energy. The detection of slow neutrons returning to the probe allows an estimate of the amount of hydrogen present. Since water contains two atoms of hydrogen per molecule, this therefore gives a measure of soil moisture.
Farmers use this to determine how much water is in their fields.
See also
Frequency domain sensor
Time-domain reflectometer
Neutron detection
References
Morgenschweiss, G.; Luft, G. (1981), "Einrichtung von Bodenfeuchtemesstellen, Kalibrierung einer Neutronensonde am Beispiel der Wallingfordsonde Typ IH11", Deutsche Gewässerkundliche Mitteilungen (DGM) (in German) 25: 84–92, OCLC 1633497 : Google Translate: "Establishment of soil moisture measurement points, calibration of a neutron probe at the instance of the type Wallingfordsonde iH11"
