What is a soil moisture meter?

A soil moisture meter is a device for measuring the amount of water contained in soil. It is mainly used to check soil characteristics and management conditions in situations such as agricultural field and agricultural research and development, environmental monitoring associated with construction work (vegetation protection, etc.), and individual gardening. Depending on the measurement principle, there are methods for obtaining the permittivity (TDR method, ADR method, FDR method), tensiometer method, and cyclometer method. There is also a logger type that, when buried in the soil, measures data on a regular basis and stores it in the main unit. In addition, since a moisture sensor for electronic work is available at a low price, it can also be used as a simple soil moisture meter by making it yourself.

Application of soil moisture meter

Soil moisture is an important factor that influences the growth of plants in the agricultural field, so it is widely used as an index. Also, in the case of potted plants and gardening, if the soil moisture content is too high, it causes root rot, so it is widely used by professionals and general households. Since there are multiple principles used in soil moisture meters and the price range is wide, it is necessary to select the appropriate type according to the application and the accuracy of the required data. Some can be purchased for a few hundred yen, while others can be purchased for a few tens of thousands of yen.

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