Products > SoilWatch 10

Calibrating Soil Watch 10 Sensor and accuracy of the readings

(1/6) > >>

aylashiv:
Hi,

I have ordered your soil watch 10 sensor, and waiting for the shipment, before getting it, I'm having some questions can any one clarify it?

How shall i get convinced that what ever readings from soil watch 10 is generated are appropriate ?

how to calibrate Soil watch 10 sensor? could you provide any mechanism?

Is this sensor is based on volumetric Water content (VWC)?

How long this sensor is durable while placing in the soil?

Kindly don't take it in a negative way, these are the sensors which are of urgent need for me?
These are the questions raised by our Team.

Thanks,
Shiva.

pinolec:
Hi,

Thanks for good questions.
The readings you get are not absolute. To get close approximation VWC you need to calibrate the sensor for specific soil. We are working on preparing calibration curves.
We don't have a specific mechanism to calibrate sensor at the moment.
Our sensor gives repeatable readings (good observation is needed to spot the best levels for the application even with known VWC).
We estimate that our sensor will last 5 years+ but we don't have enough evidence to be certain.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks,
Piotr

aylashiv:
Thanks for the reply.

Please let me understand ,how to measure VWC?

Also, you mean to say that we have to fix the VWC depending on the soil type, so this differs from type of soil.

Is this sensor VWC type?

Can i bury this sensor around 3-5 feet into the soil? For measuring the moisture content.

pinolec:
Hi,

Sorry if I confused you.

The only method known to me to measure with 100% accuracy is to dry sample of soil.


--- Code: ---VWC = (Wet [g] - Dry [g]) / Volume [cm3]

--- End code ---

But this is of curse time consuming and very slow. Capacitive sensors or TDR give approximate water content instead.
Depending on calibration results may be quite off. Best results are achieved when the sensor is calibrated in the soil which will be used.

If the sensor is to be used in a typical farming situation the best idea is to determine desired moisture levels (min-max) get the readings straight from the sensor and use it without converting to VWC.
For eg. sandy soil can keep around 15-25% water by volume, on the other hand, clay can keep around 50-60% water by volume. Applying VWC determined in one type of soil to a different type of soil may be disastrous.

To estimate VWC you can use the equation:

--- Code: ---y = 15.5x + 2.58
--- End code ---

Please mind, that the equation it is work in progress.

The sensor can be buried in soil.

Regards,
Piotr

aylashiv:
Hi,

Finally we have received Soil watch 10, Very Excited to test and calibrate with it..

we have tested this sensor, its pretty straight forward,Thanks for so user friendliness, and got the readings for the soil with different moist levels.

we have also submerged it fully into the water, it shows value 700 for the same.

There are few Questions and Doubts arised while testiing this one,

1) Will this sensor readings will have effect due to mineral and fertilizer composition present in the soil,
As the resistive ones vary significantly due to the presence of these fertilizers present in the soil and have a great effect on readings, irrespective of water content.

2)What is the length of the sensor that we need to bury inside the soil, I mean to ask,the sensor portion right from tip to the black waterproof casing?


Thanks,
Shiva.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page