Soil Moisture Sensors
Soil Moisture Sensors - Related Videos
08:20
In Situ Soil Moisture Sensors in Undisturbed Soils
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Cited by 7 •
2022
The determination of soil water content is a critical mission requirement for many state and federal agencies. This protocol synthesizes multi-agency efforts to measure soil water content using buried in situ sensors.
06:16
Determination of Moisture Content in Soil
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona Demonstrating Author: Bradley Schmitz Soils normally contain a finite amount of water, which can be expressed as the “soil moisture content.” This moisture exists within the pore spaces in between soil aggregates (inter-aggregate pore space) and within soil aggregates (intra-aggregate pore space) (Figure 1). Normally this pore space is occupied by air and/or water. If all the pores are occupied by air, the...
09:16
Methods of Soil Resampling to Monitor Changes in the Chemical Concentrations of Forest Soils
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Cited by 19 •
2016
Repeated soil sampling has recently been shown to be an effective way to monitor forest soil change over years and decades. To support its use, a protocol is presented that synthesizes the latest information on soil resampling methods to aid in the design and implementation of successful soil monitoring programs.
13:23
A Protocol for Collecting and Constructing Soil Core Lysimeters
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Cited by 4 •
2016
A detailed method for extraction and assembly of intact soil core lysimeters and their use for study of leachate and associated loss of nutrients from surface applied poultry litter is demonstrated.
07:46
Temperature Response of Soil Organic Matter Decomposition Rates: Construction and Applications of a Temperature Gradient Block
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2026
We introduce a temperature gradient block and detail its construction and utilization. The block provides 22 discrete temperatures, linearly distributed between a user-defined range from 0 to 90 °C. Data collected from this setup enables testing and developing new theories on the temperature response of soil organic matter decomposition rates.
FAQs
The design determines which soil response is converted into a moisture estimate. Capacitance-based instruments detect changes in electrical storage, resistance-based devices respond to changes in electrical resistance, and electromagnetic systems use signal travel time. Comparing these approaches helps researchers match the measurement principle to a monitoring goal and interpret readings appropriately.
Calibration connects a sensor’s output with moisture conditions in a particular soil. Texture, salinity, and density can alter the electrical or electromagnetic response, so an unadjusted reading may not represent water availability consistently. Accounting for these properties improves comparability among measurements and strengthens decisions based on irrigation, ecosystem, or hydrological data.
Repeated measurements make short-term and gradual changes visible. Rainfall can increase soil water, while evaporation and vegetation can reduce or redistribute it. Tracking these patterns over time helps environmental researchers examine water movement through soil rather than relying on a single observation, improving interpretation of ecosystem conditions and watershed dynamics.
A useful workflow begins by selecting a sensor design suited to the intended environmental measurement, then calibrating it for the relevant soil texture, salinity, and density. Researchers can collect readings continuously and compare changes with rainfall, evaporation, and vegetation. This sequence produces a more interpretable record for land-management or modeling work.
Irrigation managers can use sensor records to identify changing soil-water conditions and schedule watering more effectively. In agricultural settings, the measurements also support efforts to improve crop efficiency by relating water availability to management decisions. The value comes from using calibrated, time-resolved observations rather than treating irrigation as independent of soil conditions.
In environmental research, the measurements provide inputs for examining drought and watershed dynamics and for improving hydrological models. They also help connect soil conditions with plant water availability and broader ecosystem status. Because these applications require interpreting water movement across time, continuous records can offer context that isolated measurements cannot provide.