TRI-SENSOR FOR SOIL MOISTURE, CE AND TEMPERATURE

TRI-SENSOR FOR SOIL MOISTURE, CE AND TEMPERATURE

The tri-sensor for soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity is used to provide real data on the state of the soil. With this data, smart irrigation decisions can be made that result in higher crop yields with less investment into consumables.

Its main benefits include:

Water and fertilizer savings
Higher crop yield
Greater sustainability with the environment

This soil moisture, temperature and EC sensor can be connected to the Maher Smart, Ferti 8000 or Ciclón irrigation controller. Irrigation can be activated and stopped based on the data provided by these sensors. Irrigation can therefore be optimized so that the humidity, temperature and electrical conductivity values of the soil are between target values.

I WANT INFORMATION

The Soil Moisture, Electrical Conductivity and Temperature Tri-Sensor sends a signal to the irrigation controller with the SDI12 communication protocol, with the following information:

Soil moisture data
Data on the electrical conductivity of the soil
Soil temperature data

The controller must have the analog inputs option activated. MAHER SMART and FERTI 8000 comes from the factory, however for Ciclón it would have to be requested.

AUTOMATE IRRIGATION ACCORDING TO SOIL MOISTURE DATA

When carrying out the irrigation schedule, select the type of start “by analog input”
Indicate the minimum soil moisture value from which the irrigation schedule would be activated
The start of irrigation can also be conditional on electrical conductivity and soil temperature values
Maximum pause: If the start of irrigation has not been requested after this time has transpired, the controller will carry out an emergency irrigation and will indicate this anomaly.
Minimum pause: Although the sensor is continuously demanding the start of irrigation, at least this time must transpire from the end of irrigation until it can start again

SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR DATA VIEWED FROM MOBILE OR PC

The irrigation controller must be connected to the Maher App, a web application that enables remote irrigation control
This web application shows graphs of the evolution of these parameters. With filtering by day, month and time band

Measurement Specifications

MEASUREMENT SPECIFICATIONS

Volumetric Water Content (VWC)

Range:

Mineral soil calibration: 0.00–0.70 m3/m3
Soilless media calibration: 0.0–1.0 m3 / m3
Apparent dielectric permittivity (εa): 1 (air) to 80 (water)
NOTE: The VWC range depends on the medium for which the sensor is calibrated. A custom calibration will accommodate the ranges needed for most substrates.

Resolution:

0.001 m3 / m3

Precision:

Generic Calibration: ±0.03 m3/m3 (±3.00% VWC) typical in mineral soils with EC solution <8 dS/m.
Media specific calibration: ±0.01–0.02 m3/m3 (±1–2% VWC) in any porous media.
Apparent dielectric permittivity (εa): 1–40 (ground range), ± 1 εa (unitless) 40–80, 15% of measurement

Dielectric measurement frequency

70 MHz

Temperature

Range: −40 to 60 ° C
Resolution: 0.1 ° C
Precision: ± 0.5 ° C from −40 to 0 ° C
± 0.3 ° C from 0 to +60 ° C

Bulk electrical conductivity (ECb)

Range: 0 to 20 dS / m (bulk)
Resolution: 0.001 dS / m
Precision: +/- (5% +0.01 dS / m) from 0 to 10 dS / m
+/- 8% from 10 to 20 dS / m

COMMUNICATION SPECIFICATIONS

Output

Serial communications protocol DDI or SDI-12

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions

Length: 9.4 cm (3.70 inches)
Width: 2.4 cm (0.95 inches)
Height: 7.5 cm (2.95 inches)

Spike Length

5.5 cm (2.17 inches)

Cable length

5 m (standard)
75 m (maximum custom cable length)

Installation

Avoid interference from objects when drilling the hole
Don’t install near large metal objects as sensor readings may be distorted
During installation, be careful with large objects such as roots and rocks; as they could bend the sensor needles
The sensor can be placed in any orientation. Vertical position is recommended to prevent movement after water seepage
Avoid creating air spaces around the sensor needles