How to Interpret Soil Moisture Data – Understand Sensor Readings by Soil Type

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soil moisture sensor

How to Interpret Soil Moisture Data: A Practical Guide for Australian Farmers

Understanding and acting on soil moisture data is essential for optimizing irrigation, improving crop yields, and conserving resources. With the right soil moisture sensor, you can make informed decisions based on accurate, site-specific data. This guide explains how to interpret soil moisture readings and introduces the Farmo Multi-Depth Soil Moisture and Temperature Sensor—a robust solution for remote soil monitoring and management.


Why Soil Moisture Data Matters

Soil moisture content varies significantly depending on soil type, weather, and management practices. Monitoring this data with a reliable soil moisture sensor or soil moisture meter helps you:

  • Schedule irrigation more efficiently

  • Avoid over- or under-watering

  • Improve crop quality and yield

  • Save water and energy


Understanding Soil Moisture Readings

When using a soil moisture probe or soil sensor, you’ll notice that readings don’t typically range from 0% to 100%. This is because the amount of water a soil can hold depends on its texture and structure. For example, sandy soils hold less water than clay soils.

Reference Ranges (from AgVic):

SOIL CHARACTERISTICS Crop lower limit (%) Drained upper limit (%)
Coarse sand 2 6
Fine sand 4 10
Light sandy clay loam 10 23
Loam 13 27
Sandy clay loam 13 28
Clay loam 14 32
Clay 25 40
Self mulching clay 25 45

 

For example, in sandy clay loam, soil moisture readings typically range from 13% (dry) to 28% (saturated).


How Farmo’s Multi-Depth Soil Moisture and Temperature Sensor Works

The Farmo Multi-Depth Soil Moisture and Temperature Sensor is a leading soil moisture and temperature sensor for Australian agriculture. It provides accurate, multi-layered data to help you manage irrigation and monitor soil health.

Key Features:

  • Multi-depth monitoring: Measures soil moisture and temperature at 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm, 50cm, and 60cm depths, offering a complete soil profile.

  • Remote soil moisture sensing: Data is transmitted daily at 9am (configurable), viewable in real time via the Farmo App.

  • Plug-and-play installation: Includes SIM card, battery, telemetry unit, probe, and cable—just install and activate if you have cellular coverage.

  • Soil moisture measurement: Uses a factory-calibrated probe (0 in air, 100 in water). Readings are in scaled frequency units (SFU), not direct percentages.

  • Soil temperature monitoring: Simultaneously tracks soil temperature at all measured depths.

  • Irrigation automation: Integrates with Farmo’s Remote Pump Control or Remote Relay Switch to automate irrigation based on soil moisture data.

  • Long cable: 6m cable for flexible installation.

  • Alerts: Real-time email and SMS alerts for critical soil moisture or temperature conditions.

  • Warranty: 12-month back-to-base warranty, with pro-rata coverage up to 24 months.

Subscription: $10 per device/month (ex GST), including app access, 3 user logins, unlimited email alerts, and 20 SMS alerts per device/month.


Interpreting Sensor Readings

Farmo’s soil moisture sensor probe returns values as SFU, which are not linear and not a direct percentage. Use historical data and the AgVic soil characteristics table to determine your field’s refill and field capacity points. Over time, you’ll identify what SFU values correspond to “dry,” “optimal,” and “saturated” for your specific soil type.

  • High SFU: Field capacity (turn irrigation off)

  • Low SFU: Refill point (turn irrigation on)

By linking your soil moisture data to pump controls, you can automate irrigation to maintain soil moisture between these ideal levels.


Why Choose Farmo’s Soil Moisture and Temperature Sensor?

  • Accurate multi-depth soil moisture measurement

  • Remote soil monitor capabilities via app

  • Supports soil moisture and temperature management

  • Ideal for Australian conditions and soil types

  • Easy integration with irrigation automation systems


Buy Now

Ready to upgrade your farm’s soil moisture monitoring?

Farmo
Regular price$1,299.00 AUD

GST included.


Order the Farmo Multi-Depth Soil Moisture and Temperature Sensor here and start making data-driven decisions for your crops.


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