Soil Moisture Probe

A soil moisture probe is a device used to measure the amount of moisture in soil. This measurement is called soil moisture content and is expressed as a percentage of the soil’s dry weight. Soil moisture probes can either be used manually or installed in the ground for continuous monitoring.

Soil moisture probes are primarily used to determine the water needs of plants, as well as to schedule irrigation to avoid water damage. Early detection of excess water can prevent damage to the plants and the foundation of your property. They are also used in agriculture for precision farming applications, such as crop yield estimation and the application of fertilizers, and in scientific research involving soil water dynamics in the vadose zone.

Types of Soil Moisture Probes

There are two main types of soil moisture probes:

• Capacitance-based probes: These probes measure the capacitance of the soil, which increases as the soil moisture content increases.
• Frequency-domain reflectometry (FDR) probes: These probes emit electromagnetic pulses and measure the time it takes for the pulses to reflect back from the soil. The travel time of the pulses increases as the soil moisture content increases.

Installation and Use

The installation and use of soil moisture probes vary depending on the specific type of probe. Capacitance-based probes are typically inserted into the soil at various depths, while FDR probes are installed in the ground with only the sensor tips exposed to the soil.

Once installed, soil moisture probes can be used to regularly collect data. This data can be used to create a soil moisture profile, which can be used to determine the water needs of plants and to schedule irrigation. In smart farming, this data can be transmitted wirelessly to a central system for monitoring and analysis.