Soil moisture monitor establishes a mathematical model by measuring the soil's dielectric constant and uses a spiral measuring electrode to acquire soil volumetric moisture content data. It can simultaneously measure soil temperature, humidity, and conductivity at three layers (customizable for up to 10 layers), making it suitable for agricultural engineering fields such as smart greenhouses, smart orchards, and smart irrigation.
Soil moisture monitor is an online monitoring device for monitoring soil profile temperature, soil profile humidity, and soil profile conductivity. This device integrates soil temperature, moisture, and conductivity measurement and can be widely used in agricultural engineering fields such as smart greenhouses, smart orchards, and smart irrigation. In terms of measurement principle, the device establishes a mathematical model by measuring the soil's dielectric constant and designs a spiral measuring electrode to measure soil volumetric moisture content data. This measurement method based on the dielectric constant principle can directly and stably reflect the moisture content of various soil types.
In terms of technical implementation, Soil moisture monitor employs FDR (Frequency Domain Reflectometry) sensing technology. It calculates soil volumetric water content by emitting high-frequency electromagnetic waves and measuring their propagation speed in the soil. The device integrates a high-precision temperature sensor to correct for the impact of soil temperature on moisture measurement in real time, ensuring data accuracy. It supports multi-sensor cascading, allowing simultaneous measurement of up to three soil layers; up to ten layers can be customized for additional measurement. The sensor uses a spiral electrode design to improve contact between the sensor and the soil, minimizing measurement errors caused by air gaps. The device casing is made of imported PC material, offering high strength, corrosion resistance, and an IP67 waterproof rating, allowing for continuous field measurements.
Regarding data transmission and management, Soil moisture monitor supports multiple communication methods including 4G, 5G, GPRS, and RS485. Monitoring data is processed by a central processor and transmitted to the monitoring platform wirelessly or via wired connection. The device comes with a data management cloud platform and an app, allowing users to view soil moisture data in real time via webpage or mobile phone. The power supply options are flexible, supporting solar power, 220V AC mains power, and continuous power from a built-in long-life lithium battery. The device consumes as little as 0.26W, making it suitable for long-term unattended monitoring in the field.
In terms of application value, Soil moisture monitor can provide farmers with scientific irrigation recommendations, avoiding water waste and soil salinization caused by over-irrigation, while also preventing crop growth from being affected by water shortages. This technology has been included in the "National Catalogue of Mature and Applicable Water-Saving Technologies (2023)," and more than 3,000 devices have been deployed in irrigation experimental stations and affiliated institutions nationwide. Continuous monitoring data can also be used by agricultural research institutions to conduct crop physiological and ecological research and construct soil moisture management models.
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