Soil Moisture sensor

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Introduction 1.0

What is soil moisture sensor 1.1

Soil moisture is a critical parameter in Agriculture. If there is a shortage or overabundance of soil moisture will impact plants badly. Hence determining soil moisture content is significant. Soil moisture is basically the quantity of water available in the soil. Efficient water management and irrigation will lead to improving the quality and quantity of the harvest, conserving water and energy, and reducing nutrient leaching.

One of the easiest and most effective ways of irrigation is introducing sensors to agriculture. There are many ways of determining soil moisture content in the laboratory. Even so, without laboratory practices, soil moisture can be determined automatically, effectively, and quickly by using a soil moisture sensor. 

This soil moisture sensor (Fg.1) is commonly used in smart gardens and smart agriculture to determine the soil moisture content in the soil. It measures the volumetric water content in soil and gives the moisture level as input. The sensor module has both digital and analog outputs and a potentiometer to adjust the threshold level.

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moisture sensor

A typical soil moisture sensor has two parts. It consists of a prob and a module. 

Prob 1.1.1

Prob (Fg.2) the sensor part that is inserted in the soil. It is a fork-shaped probe with two exposed conductors. This conductor acts as a variable resistor and the resistance varies according to the soil moisture.  

soil moisture sensor probe
the prob

                                                       

The module 1.1.2

Soil Moisture Sensor Module Components
The module

The module (Fg 3) is the electronic part that connects the sensor to the Arduino or any other microcontroller and converts incoming analog signs to digital signals. This module has two input pins to connect the prob and four output pins of VCC (used for power), GND (ground pin), digital output (Digital out), and analog pin (analog out). LM393 is a high-precision comparator that digitalizes the analog signals and makes it available at DO the pin. The module has a built-in potentiometer that is used for sensitivity adjustment of the digital output. 


How the sensor works 1.2

The sensor uses capacitance to measure the dielectric permittivity of the soil medium. Dielectric permittivity is the function of the water content of the soil. The sensor creates a voltage proportional to the dielectric permittivity.

The sensor averages the water content over the length of the sensor. There is a 2cm zone of influence with respect to the flat surface of the sensor. but when it comes to extreme edges, it has a little sensitivity or no sensitivity. Electromagnetic field line can be identified along the cross section of the sensor.

Working principle of the sensor 1.3

Basically, sensor uses capacitance to gauge the water content of the soil (Dielectric permittivity). The sensor should be inserted into the soil and the water content is reported in form of a percent. This resistance varies inversely with soil moisture:

  • The more water in the soil, the better the conductivity and the lower the resistance.

  • The less water in the soil, the lower the conductivity and thus the higher the resistance.


Application of soil moisture sensor 1.4

  • Agriculture 

  • Landscape irrigation 

  • For research

  • For gardeners under the smart agriculture concept 


Discussion 1.5

When using a soil moisture sensor, there are several advantages and disadvantages that can be encountered.

Advantages

  • The ability to read soil volumetric water content directly.

  • Reading accuracy is high when it properly contacts with the soil.

  • No specific maintenance is required.

  • Continues measurement at the same location and same time.

  • Large range of operating environments (0 to 40 c)

  • Easy to use.

  • Can operate with smart garden and Iot concepts.

Disadvantages

  • Relevant knowledge is required to operate.

  • Can’t be used alone should be used with a microcontroller.

  • Nowadays the cost is high.

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