Comparative study of sensor based soil moisture detection with gravimetric method

Abstract

Soil moisture is a crucial parameter for assessing water quantity in soil, influencing various processes such as weather, climate monitoring, flood control, crop yield estimation, reservoir management, geotechnical engineering, and water quality assessment. However, soil moisture is highly dynamic, varying significantly over time and across locations, making ground-based measurements challenging and time-consuming. Several methods exist to quantify soil moisture, such as gravimetric, nuclear, electromagnetic, tensiometric, and hygrometric techniques. Remote sensing provides an efficient alternative, but ground-based soil moisture measurements are still required at select locations. Gravimetric methods are widely used but are time-consuming and less precise compared to sensor-based approaches. Soil moisture sensors come in various types, each designed for specific applications and based on different principles. In this study, a gravimetric approach is used to compare a capacitive-type electromagnetic soil moisture sensor. Accurate soil moisture assessment is vital for field activities, as overwatering and underwatering can lead to resource inefficiencies or losses. Advancements in sensor technology have improved precision while reducing costs.