How does the sensor station measure soil moisture?
We use Irrometer's Watermark sensors & Sentek's Drill & Drop sensors to measure moisture.
Each Watermark sensor station contains between up to 5 Irrometer Watermark soil moisture sensors, which have been used & trusted by growers for nearly 40 years. The sensors measure how hard the crop has to work to extract water out of the soil. They electronically read the amount of moisture absorbed through a special mix of precisely composed materials.
Each Sentek sensor station has a Sentek Drill & Drop probe that is capacitance-based & measures volumetric soil moisture. Volumetric soil moisture content is expressed as a percentage. Unlike the Watermark sensor, which measures soil moisture at a single location, the Sentek Drill & Drop probe measures soil moisture & soil temperature every 4" along the length of the probe, starting at 2". So, if you have a Drill & Drop probe that is 2 feet long, the sensor measures soil moisture & temperature at depths of 2", 6", 10", 14", 18", & 22".
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How often does the sensor measure soil moisture?
Our sensor stations record data at regular intervals so you can make decisions with up-to-date information. Trellis sensor stations measure soil moisture every 2 hours. This information is relayed to the central base station, which uploads the data ...
What do Trellis' soil moisture sensors measure?
Our sensors measure soil moisture tension, a measure of how difficult it is for the plant to extract water from the soil. Soil moisture tension is a negative pressure value, measured in kilopascals (kPa). The lower the number, the harder it is for ...
What do the lights on the sensor station circuit board mean?
The lights on the circuit board help you understand how the sensor station is working. Inside the top of your sensor station electronics box, you should see the following 'cheat sheet' Sensor Station Cheat Sheet 'Good' If the sensor station can ...
What should I do if my sensor station is 'offline'?
Step 1: Reset the sensor station. Reset the sensor station. Check the lights on the sensor station circuit board (see this article for more information). If the sensor station is having trouble communicating with the base station, reset the base ...
How do I reset my sensor station?
Open the electronics box and press the button outlined in red below. Sensor Station Reset Button You're all set! If you're still having trouble, check out our sensor station cheat sheet guide.