Soil Moisture Sensors (SMS) for Agriculture

 


SMS: A Must-Have for Every Crop

Every crop needs sufficient water saturation for optimal plant development. Proper irrigation can prevent a failure to thrive and increase the yield over your entire acreage. Whether you use drip irrigation or pivot irrigation, it's important to install soil moisture sensors (SMSs) that calibrate water delivery across different soil types and retention capabilities. 

Too much moisture can lead to root rot and damage plants irreparably while too little water can leave your crops parched and unproductive. Speak with your Vanden Bussche Irrigation salesperson to find the right equipment to regulate soil on your operations or your client’s property.

“Soil moisture sensors are essential farming tools that come with online applications that make it easy to monitor and adjust your irrigation strategy remotely. This is a must-have for every crop,” -Gerad Vanden Bussche
 

What Is a Soil Moisture Sensor?

Soil moisture sensors measure the Volumetric Water Content (VWC) in your soil. VWC expresses the ratio of water volume to soil volume. You may see this written as a percentage, ratio, or depth of water versus depth of soil (e.g., inches of water per foot of soil).
 

Benefits of SMS Include:

  • Cost-effective
  • Flexible - Install with a new irrigation system or as a standalone feature
  • Rugged, weather-proof
  • Integrates with your irrigation control system
  • Available in solar or battery-powered systems, perfect for fields with no power or cell service
  • Real-time data available for remote locations
     

Top Soil Moisture Sensors for Agriculture

You can find top brands in the Vanden Bussche Irrigation Agriculture Catalogue. Additionally, you can work with your sales representative to find the right portable, mobile, subsurface, or other soil moisture sensor for your operation.

Top brands include ConnectedCrops,™ which offers advanced wireless SMSs to empower growers in the field. Make better management decisions with vital moisture and temperature information in the palm of your hand. Our team members can help you learn everything you need to know about this and other SMSs available through Vanden Bussche.

Data analytics and functionality include:

  • Temperature Inversion
  • Soil Moisture Levels
  • Irrigation Scheduling
  • Growing Degree Day Data
  • Frost Prevention

Irrometer makes some of the best soil moisture sensors in the business. Use these devices to schedule your irrigation for precise farming capability. 

The advantages of these units include:

  • Time Savings
  • Optimizes Production 
  • Water Conservation
  • Reduce Environmental Impact 
  • Save Money on Labour Costs

Monitoring soil moisture avoids both over-irrigation and under-irrigation, ensuring that your crops get the moisture they need to thrive.
 

Isn’t It Time to Modernize with Soil Moisture Sensors?

By using soil moisture sensors, you can improve the efficiency of your irrigation tasks and turn a higher profit on your farm. There are several configurations available, all of which have distinct advantages and disadvantages. When installed and calibrated appropriately, these systems can accurately measure soil water content. Instead of inundating you with data, soil moisture sensors give you just enough data to make smart decisions based on your soil's water storage capacity.

Soil moisture sensors enable agricultural landowners to better control the water delivered to each plant. Vanden Bussche Irrigation offers top brands and unmatched customer service. Contact us today to learn more about how this advanced technology can simplify your decision-making process.

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