Sensaphone has announced the release of the Soil Moisture Sensor to help landscapers, horticulturists, greenhouse operators, golf course managers, farmers and other commercial growers irrigate more efficiently. The sensor measures water content in soil and other growing media so that users can be alerted when moisture conditions fall outside the desired range. Instant notification prevents over- or under-watering, minimizes water usage, promotes growth and increases crop yield and quality.
The Sensaphone Soil Moisture Sensor is compatible with most Sensaphone remote monitoring systems, which provide the necessary alerting and data logging functionality. The system can also interface with an irrigation controller to prevent irrigation cycles when soil is already wet, which reduces water usage and minimizes leaching of fertilizers and other chemicals into the ground.
The sensor determines volumetric water content using technology that makes readings accurate in almost any soil or soilless growing media. It operates in temperatures from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius), and has an accuracy range of ±6 percent VWC when generically calibrated for the growing media that it supports. Accuracy increases when the sensor is calibrated for specific growing media. Factory calibrations are included for measuring moisture in mineral soils, potting soils and rockwool growing media.
“This new sensor helps manage soil moisture during critical plant growth stages and control costs by adjusting water use,” said Rob Fusco, technical support and service manager at Sensaphone. “It gives growers the data they need to irrigate more accurately and efficiently.”
