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Soil Moisture Sensor

Soil moisture sensors are devices that monitor soil moisture conditions using various methods such as conductivity, capacitance, and neutron radiation. Different types of sensors, including Time Domain Reflectometers (TDR), Frequency Domain Reflectors (FDR), and Tensiometers, offer various advantages and disadvantages in terms of accuracy, calibration, and soil compatibility. These sensors are essential for optimizing irrigation and understanding plant water uptake in agricultural practices.

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13 views19 pages

Soil Moisture Sensor

Soil moisture sensors are devices that monitor soil moisture conditions using various methods such as conductivity, capacitance, and neutron radiation. Different types of sensors, including Time Domain Reflectometers (TDR), Frequency Domain Reflectors (FDR), and Tensiometers, offer various advantages and disadvantages in terms of accuracy, calibration, and soil compatibility. These sensors are essential for optimizing irrigation and understanding plant water uptake in agricultural practices.

Uploaded by

natchathiram2789
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Soil moisture sensor

Natchathiram K 2412116113

Nithya M 2412116114

Porkkodi Ma P 2412116115
Introduction
• Soil sensors are instruments used to monitor soil moisture conditions.
• Use the Soil Moisture Sensor to:
• Measure the loss of moisture over time due to evaporation and plant uptake.
• Evaluate optimum soil moisture contents for various species of plants.
• Monitor soil moisture content to control irrigation in greenhouses
Soil moisture sensor
Working
• Moisture sensor does not measure moisture but measures conductivity or
resistivity of soil
• Moisture sensor has two probes to pass current through the soil. It then reads
resistance(conductance) in the soil
• Less moisture(water) is soil results in higher resistance i.e. dry soil
• More moisture (water) in soil results in lesser resistance and sensor thus relates
moisture content.
Capacitance based Soil moisture
sensor
Working

The Soil Moisture Sensor uses capacitance to measure


dielectric permittivity of the surrounding medium. In soil,
dielectric permittivity is a function of the water content(i.e
The Dielectric coefficient of wet and dry soil is different). The
capacitance of the sensor plates changes when the soil gets
wet or dry.
Working

The sensor creates a voltage proportional to the dielectric


permittivity, and therefore the water content of the soil.
Orientation of Soil Moisture sensor
• The horizontal orientation of the sensor ensures the measurement is
made at a particular soil depth. The entire sensor can be placed
vertically, but because soil moisture often varies by depth, this is not
usually the desired orientation
Other types of soil moisture sensor
Time domain reflector
(TDR)

Frequency domain
reflector (FDR)

Neutron Probe Sensor

Soil Moisture Sensors

Time domain
transmission (TDT)

Tensiometer

Granular matrix sensors


Time domain reflector (TDR)
• Time domain reflectometers consist of two to three parallel rods that are inserted into the soil.
• An electromagnetic wave is passed through the soil via the rods from a transmission line.
• The speed and strength of the wave after it travels from one rod to the other is directly related to
the dielectric properties of the soil, and hence, its soil moisture content.
• Advantages
• Highly accurate (±1%).
• Can be used without calibration to specific soils, however it reduces accuracy.
• Not easily influenced by moderately saline soil conditions.
• Minimal soil disturbance.
• Disadvantages
• Need for good contact between sensor and soil.
• Small sensing area (2.4-inch diameter).
• Might have limited applicability in highly saline or heavy clay soils.
• Might have to be recalibrated for soils with tightly held water.
Frequency domain reflector (FDR)
• This sensor uses the soil as a capacitor, which stores part of an electric charge that is run through two
or more electrodes inserted into soil.
• Changes in frequency of the wave as it passes through the soil are related to this capacitance and its
dielectric properties of the soil (i.e., the greater the frequency, the more soil moisture).
• Advantages
• Accurate once calibrated to a specific soil (±1%).
• Can be used in saline soils beyond the range of the TDR.
• High resolution signal (less noise than TDR).
• FDRs tend to be less expensive than TDRs.
• Disadvantages
• Must be calibrated to a specific soil.
• More sensitive to temperature and bulk density than TDR.
• Small sensing area (3.2-inch diameter).
• Need for good contact between sensor and soil.
• Sensitive to air gaps.
Neutron Probe Sensors
• Neutron probe sensors use neutron radiation to measure soil
moisture indirectly. They are highly accurate but typically require
trained personnel and are used in research and large-scale
agriculture.
• The neutron method of measuring soil moisture operates based
on this principle: as a source emits fast neutrons into the soil,
they’re slowed and scattered by the soil itself.
• This action creates a cloud of slow neutrons enveloping the probe.

• In dry soil, the neutron cloud is less dense and reaches farther
from the probe. Conversely, in wet soil, the neutron cloud is
denser and spans a shorter distance from the probe.
Neutron Probe Sensors
Advantages
• It is very accurate
• Able to measure a large area
• Is not affected by salinity and air gaps around the access tube
Disadvantages
• Soil-specific calibration needed
• It is very expensive and heavy
• Need to have the license
• Not accurate at slight depths
• No remote access
Time domain transmission (TDT)
• This sensor operates similarly to a TDR, however the rod is
connected to the electrical source at both the beginning and end
of the rod.
• The TDT measures the travel time of the wave propagation
between the rods.
Tensiometer
• Consists of a glass tube filled with water that is connected to a vacuum gauge. A porous ceramic cup is
placed at the end of the tube.
• As water is used by plants or as the soil moisture decreases, soil matric potential increases.
• This is measured by changes in pressure on the vacuum gauge. Conversely, as soil moisture increases, the
vacuum decreases.
• Advantages
• Capable of high frequency sampling.
• Salinity buffering.
• Inexpensive.
• Large sensing area (8-inch diameter).
• Disadvantages
• Limited range.
• Maintenance to replace water in tube could be necessary.
• Might have to be reset frequently in coarse or swelling soils.
• Less intuitive due to negative relationship between volumetric water content and tensiometer reading.
Granular matrix sensors
• Sensor consists of electrodes contained in a granular matrix (usually quartz) that is enclosed within a gypsum
solution, a membrane, and a metal case. Gypsum buffers salinity affects.
• A small charge is placed on the electrodes and electrical resistance through the sensor is measured.
• As water is used by plants or as the soil moisture decreases, water is drawn from the sensor and resistance
increases. Conversely, as soil moisture increases, resistance decreases.
• Advantages
• Can measure a large area (8-inch diameter).
• Can be used in moderately saline soils.
• Can be used to sense wet or dry soil moisture readings for irrigation.
• Inexpensive.
• If soil does not dry out, little maintenance is required.
• Disadvantages
• Relatively inaccurate.
• Performs poorly in sandy soils due to slow reaction time (water moves fast in sandy soils).
• Performs poorly in soils that shrink/swell.
• Susceptible to drying; must be dug out and solution reset when this occurs.
Thank you

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