The neutron method of estimating soil moisture content in the field has the advantage that once access tubes are installed no further disturbance to the site is necessary and readings can be taken repeatedly throughout the soil profile at a fraction of the time necessary for the gravitational method. However, measurement of moisture content in the surface layer of soil, the top 10 cm, has proved difficult since the source and detector must be at a depth less than the sphere of influence allowing some neutrons to escape to the atmosphere. This air-soil interface effect can lead to an underestimation of moisture content which is greatest in wet soil (Van Bavel, Hood & Underwood, 1954).
The relation between the duration of sunshine hours and radiation derived from ten years of daily records at Eskdalemuir and Cawood differs significantly from formulae in general use with the Penman formula. When used in the Penman formula with meteorological data from North East England evaporation estimates were more satisfactory than those based on commonly used formulae. While winter months showed different relations between sunshine and radiation their use in estimating evaporation made no significant difference on cumulative evaporation over a year. The regression R/RA=0.189+0.624(n/N) derived from Eskdalemuir is satisfactory for use in North East England.
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