Why Water Content Can't Tell You Everything and Other Research-Ruining Mistakes

Discover how to avoid common research pitfalls and ensure data integrity in this 45-minute AGU presentation by Dr. Colin Campbell. Learn why relying solely on water content measurements can be misleading and explore eight frequent mistakes in measurement and data collection. Gain insights into critical best practices for field research, including the importance of water potential, proper metadata collection, and sensor installation techniques. Understand the significance of integrating lab data, using appropriate tools, and verifying all aspects of your setup. Explore real-world examples from agronomic and turf grass studies to illustrate key concepts. Master the art of pain-free field discovery and learn how to effectively represent site conditions in your research.

Introduction
Story Time
Measuring Water Content
Why isnt water potential used more
Water potential sensor
Water potential lacks connection to soil
Water potential and matrix potential
Turf grass example
Failing to collect metadata
E Notebook
Cloud Meter Group
Sight Pictures
agronomic example
failing to add lab data
lab testing equipment
sensors
data review
losing data
installing sensors properly
using an insulation tool
forgetting to verify everything
summary
data availability
biological water availability