Measurement Repeatability in Broadband Soil-Dielectric-Spectrum Characterization

We present a study of measurement repeatability in soil dielectric spectrum characterization. In this study we employ a novel multi-channel system for 0.05-3 GHz soil dielectric spectrum measurements which allows for simultaneous measurement of six different soil samples. The use of this system makes it possible to easily separate errors due to sample loading and preparation from the errors caused by the cell connection nonrepeatability. Results of our study demonstrate that the limiting factor for the repeatability of soil dielectric-spectrum characterization is the very process of sample preparation and loading. Our results may serve as a first step in the difficult task of establishing an uncertainty analysis for soil dielectric measurements.