Monitor your soils water and temperature condition and improve irrigation scheduling

It’s easy to know your soil’s water and temperature condition with Monnit’s Soil Moisture Wireless Sensor. It provides a highly effective way to improve irrigation scheduling and efficiency. You’ll know when and where to water your crops, plants, or landscape from the data you gather.

See water tension to prevent water stress

The Soil Moisture Sensor measures soil water tension (matric potential) and temperature. With a resistive granular matrix element, you can optimize your tension parameters to determine the earliest indication of water stress and make sure you irrigate before it reaches that point. The unique element feature delivers consistent calibration without needing to recalibrate for every installation.

The Sensor also has a thermistor-based temperature element. Its readings will help you assess temperature -40°C to 125°C (-40°F to 257°F) and the moisture’s temperature compensation, eliminating the need to measure moisture every time the soil temperature changes.

Key features of our Soil Moisture Sensor include:

• Safe and durable in both hot and freezing temperatures
• Measure within a range of 0 to 240 centibar (cb) or kilopascal (kPa)
• Corrosion-resistant and made of high-grade stainless steel
• Internally compensated for commonly found salinity levels
• Easy to install and use compared to traditional tensiometers
• Includes a 5-ft. removable lead

The sensor’s moisture element is unique because it works similar to a plant’s root by measuring water tension in its hydrophilic fabric-covered matrix material rather than the surrounding soil.

The Soil Moisture Sensor has a removable soil moisture/temperature lead and a single sensor base. The sensor works best when you bury the lead or soil probe within or very close to a plant or tree root system. The sensor also works well in most soil types.

This sensor comes with an industrial battery included with the life of up to 7 years.

All industrial sensors are enclosed in a reliable, weatherproof NEMA-rated enclosure that are constructed for both indoor and outdoor use. These rugged enclosures protect the sensor circuitry against;

• Falling dirt
• Wind-blown dust
• Rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose-directed water
• Ice formation on the enclosure
• Increased resistance to corrosion

Features

• Impressive wireless range of up to 1,200 feet through walls
• Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
• Improved interference immunity
• Improved power management for longer battery life
• Encrypt-RF® Security (Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange + AES-128 CBC for sensor data messages)
• Over-the-air updates
• Free iMonnit basic online wireless sensor monitoring and notification system to configure sensors, view data and set alerts via SMS text and email
• Stores 2000 to 4000 readings if gateway connection is lost (non-volatile flash, persists through the power cycle)
  • 10-minute heartbeats = ~ 22 days
  • 2-hour heartbeats = ~ 266 days

Applications

• Greenhouse soil monitoring
• Crop monitoring
• Smart watering
• Agronomy research
• Precision irrigation
• Forestry
• Construction
• Mining

Gateway Options for Seamless IoT Data Communication

Monnit offers a range of gateway options designed to facilitate wireless sensor data communication within IoT networks. These gateways, serve as crucial conduits for transmitting sensor data to the iMonnit software platform and play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless and efficient data transmission for IoT applications.

Click here to explore the diverse range of gateway devices available >>

Manage Your Monnit Sensors with iMonnit Cloud-based Software

Monnit’s Sensor Monitoring Software, iMonnit, stands as a cutting-edge cloud-based platform and central hub tailored for the seamless management of Monnit sensors. With a focus on data security, all information is safeguarded on dedicated servers running Microsoft SQL Server. This intuitive online user interface serves as a command centre for arranging, monitoring, and modifying device settings to suit individual requirements.

OneTemp provides complimentary activation and setup services for new iMonnit accounts, while a free mobile app empowers users to maintain control at all times. Whether opting for the basic version or upgrading to iMonnit Premiere, users can unlock the full spectrum of features that enrich the Monnit experience.

Click here to explore the software options >>

How Soil Moisture Sensors Work

With a long-range, multi-frequency radio and flexible microcontroller, Monnit’s Industrial Soil Moisture Wireless Sensor tells you on a mobile device or computer how much, when, and where to water crops.

>> Learn More

Guide on How to Install the Soil Moisture Sensor

Monnit’s Industrial Soil Moisture Wireless Sensor is easy to install when you know its external features and the supplies and tools you need to complete the installation process.

>> Learn More 

How to Interpret Data from your Soil Moisture Sensor

Monnit’s Industrial Soil Moisture Wireless Sensor measures soil water status in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of soil water tension. This value represents the energy a plant’s root system uses to draw water from the soil. As you analyze and interpret your sensor readings, you gain a clearer view of what is happening with the soil moisture in your crop’s root system.

>> Learn More

How to Install the Soil Moisture Sensor by Field and Crop Type

Monnit’s Industrial Soil Moisture Wireless Sensor is suited for five different types of installations. These installations vary based on crop type and planting scheme.

>> Learn More

 

Soil Moisture Sensor Platform Specifications
Supply Voltage		2.0-3.8 VDC (3.0-3.8 VDC using power supply) 1
Current Consumption		0.2 μA (sleep mode), 0.7 μA (RTC sleep), 570 μA (MCU idle), 2.5 mA (MCU active), 5.5 mA (radio RX mode), 22.6 mA (radio TX mode)
Operating Temperature Range		-40°C to +80°C (-40°F to +176°F)
Included Battery	Max Temperature Range	-40°C to +80°C (-40°F to +176°F)
	Capacity	1500 mAh
Data Logging		Data logs 2000 to 4000 readings if gateway connection is lost (non-volatile flash, persists through the power cycle): – 10-minute heartbeats = ~ 22 days – 2-hour heartbeats = ~ 266 days
Wireless Range		1,200+ ft non-line-of-sight
Weight		Encrypt-RF® (256-bit key exchange and AES-128 CTR)
Security		4.23 ounces (120 g)
Enclosure Rating		NEMA 1, 2, 4, 4x, 12, & 13 rated, sealed, & weatherproof
UL Rating		UL Listed to UL508-4x specifications (File E194432)
Cartifications		900 MHz product; FCC ID: ZTL-G2SC1 and IC: 9794A-G2SC1. 868 and 433 MHz product tested and found to comply with: EN 300 220-2 V3.1.1 (2017-02), EN 300 220-2 V3.1.1 (2017-02) and EN 60950

¹ Hardware cannot withstand negative voltage. Please take care when connecting a power device.

 

Sensor Specifications
Moisture Sensing Element
Element Type	Resistive element with granular matric
Range	0.0 to 240.0 centibar or kPa (Water Tension)
Resolution	~0.3 centibar or kPa1
Dimensions	Diameter: 0.875 in. (22 mm)
	Length: 3.25 in. (83 mm)
Materials	ABS plastic caps with stainless steel body over a hydrophilic fabric covered granular matrix. (Will not dissolve in soil or be compromised by freezing temperatures)
Response Time	~5 Minutes 2
Temperature Sensing Element
Element Type	Thermistor embedded in sealed metal bullet
Accuracy	+/- 1.0 Celsius
Measurement Range	-40° C to 125° C (-40° F to 257° F)
Resolution	0.1° C
Response Time	Typically less than 15 seconds
Cable Physical Specications
General Composition	Soil moisture and temperature leads coupled together in a single sealed cable wrapped in a braided sleeve. Sleeve ends fixed using adhesive lined heat shrink.
Length	63 in. (160 cm)
Connector End	Keyed M8 6-pin female connector, with M8 female coupling collar.
Cable Sleeve material	Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Overall Cable Operating Temperature	-40° C to 80° C (-40° F to 176° F) 3,4
Weight	4.07 oz. (115 g)
Sensor Base Connector
Base Connector	Keyed M8 6-pin male connector
Data
User Interface: xxx.x centibars or kPa, xxx.x° C or F 5	Raw Data: Soil Moisture: unsigned int, raw / 10 = centibars Temperature: signed int, raw / 10 = Celsius

¹ The resolution increases as the centibar readings get lower. Resolution at 0 centibar is ~0.05 centibar, at 240 centibar it is ~0.36 centibar. The sensor is limited to 0.1 centibar by the sensor firmware.
² Response time calculated by measuring time it takes for sensor to go from fully dry to saturated by placing moisture element upright in 1″ of water. Actual response times may vary.
³ Heatshrink adhesive melts at ~85° C. Using at temperatures at or above this level may compromise the waterproofing of the cable and allow the heatshrink and sleeve to slip and become loose.
⁴ The soil moisture element will not work properly while frozen but when thawed the sensor readings will return to normal.
⁵ UI units are user configurable via software.