Application of multisensor capacitance probes (MCAP) for spatial and temporal monitoring soil moisture, salinity, and temperature dynamics in irrigated orchards

Irrigation using treated wastewater is a promising alternative for Southern Italy as this area currently faces chronic water scarcity and high irrigation requirements. An issue associated with agricultural irrigation using reclaimed wastewater is the impact on soil characteristics. A field experiment was established on an apricot orchard growing in a Mediterranean environment to investigate the effects of freshwater groundwater (GW) and treated wastewater (TWW) on irrigated soils including soil temperature, soil salinity, and soil water content at different depths in the soil profile (5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 cm depth). To monitor these parameters, advanced network-based multi-depth soil moisture sensors were installed and in-field real-time data via a web-based platform were obtained during the cropping season. The results provide numerical references into the soil moisture-salinity-temperature dynamics for areas considering the use of treated wastewater. The results obtained show that in comparison with GW, the use of TWW can lead to a decrease in soil infiltration rate, an increase in soil water content but slightly higher salinity. There was no significant difference in soil temperature. This study also demonstrates the benefits of soil moisture monitoring as a reliable tool for water-efficient crop management practices.