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A large number of electromagnetic sensors for measuring soil moisture available on the
market, differing in their method of measurement, price, shape, measurement volume, durability, etc.,
mislead the potential user. They cannot compare the right measurement equipment because there is
no easy and reliable way to do so. The response of the sensors depends on the measurement frequency
used, soil salinity, density, and texture, just to name a few. The growing concern for the sustainable
use of water resources for agricultural, industrial, and domestic purposes and the growing market for
the right measuring tools are putting pressure on users making the right choice. The article presents
the issues and efforts of working towards standardization of electromagnetic measurements of soil
moisture, especially in the field of the selection of measurement methods and reference materials
that would enable the comparison of the performance of dielectric sensors available on the market.
Work on the standardization of electromagnetic soil moisture measurements requires the cooperation
of an interdisciplinary group of scientists and producers. The work done so far is an initial attempt
to synchronize research in some international laboratories, learn about mutual research methods,
and formulate research tasks for the future. Key questions about the concept development process
leading to standard testing and evaluation practices for electromagnetic soil moisture measurements
are still unanswered
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