What is it?

The Optical Membrane Soil Moisture Sensor is a new, patent-pending technology for evaluating the state of water saturation in soil.

How does it work?

The sensor is buried in the ground. The fabric "wings" protruding from the sides (the optical membrane) get wet in the ground. That water wicks into the center of the sensor, and this modulates the optical properties of the system. This modulation is evaluated by the onboard electronics, and a value representing the saturation state of the soil, with 100% being fully saturated and 0% being dry, is sent out via the serial port to a connected computer or other device for further processing.

What are it's key features or benefits?

• No metal parts to corrode - Other technologies depend on galvanic contact with the soil, like those cheap sensors you stick into the ground. (If you have been frustrated with that kind of sensor, you have come to the right place!)

• Factory Calibrated - The sensor is calibrated at time of production, so no user calibration is required. Just bury the sensor and start receiving pre-calibrated moisture saturation (and temperature) data over USB.

• Not effected by soil type - Use it in mulch, sand, clay, or what ever else you want. It makes no difference.

• Close contact with soil not required - Other technologies, like those that utilize electric fields, depend on close soil contact with little to no air gaps or variation in material in proximity to the electrode. As long as any part of the membrane finds water, it will wick in and be measured.

• Good representation of plant-available water - Electric field type sensors measure water that is absorbed into the soil itself and is therefore not available to the roots of the plant. This sensor provides a true "roots-eye-view" of the water saturation profile.

• You decide what depth you want to monitor - The sensor can be buried to a particular depth of interest, while other designs are limited by the ground penetration of their electrodes from the surface.

...More info and purchase details for technology demonstrator coming soon!