Soil moisture and precision irrigation
The SimtoLink soil sensor measures soil moisture (VWC, volumetric water content), temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH together. It uses FDR (frequency-domain reflectometry) or TDR (time-domain reflectometry). Probe depth is adjustable from 10～100cm.
It suits smart agriculture (precision agriculture), landscaping, and research monitoring, with LoRa wireless or RS485 wired output. The design is low power, and a lithium cell can last more than 2 years. The monitoring plan is in use on fields, orchards, greenhouses, and lawns. Precision irrigation can cut water use by 30%～50% and raise crop yield and quality.
Specifications and selection
Models differ by what they measure and how they report, for different farm IoT jobs. The table is a typical reference:
| Measurement | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soil moisture | 0～100% vol | VWC volumetric water content |
| EC / pH | EC 0～5 mS/cm, pH 3～9 | Saline-alkali land |
| Temperature | -40℃～80℃ | Soil temperature |
| Radio and power | LoRa/4G/NB-IoT | 3.6V lithium cell or solar |
The probe is stainless steel and resists corrosion. A layered probe can watch 10cm, 20cm, and 40cm at once. The sample period can be set from 10min～24h. Modbus register mapping is supported. Figures above are typical for a standard model; the product specification governs.
Typical applications and results
From fields and orchards to desert restoration and golf courses, the sensor covers soil-moisture watch and precision irrigation in several industries. Typical jobs and what they achieved:
Precision irrigation in an orchard
A farm park placed 60 soil sensors across 500 mu of orchard. A LoRa gateway gathers the data, and with weather and an irrigation policy the site cut water use by 40% and raised yield by 15%.
Desert-restoration monitoring
A research institute placed a sensor network on a desert-restoration site to watch soil moisture over a long period, as evidence for ecological repair.
Zoned irrigation on a golf course
A golf course placed 200 soil sensors on greens and fairways. Zoned irrigation cut water use by 35%, kept the turf, and reduced walking patrols.
Soilless culture in a greenhouse
A greenhouse watches substrate EC, pH, and moisture so nutrient solution and irrigation can be set tightly, and soilless crop quality goes up.
Selection and deployment
- Radio and power: Use LoRa on open fields so you do not pull cable. Plan a replacement cycle for the lithium cell. Solar suits a site with no mains.
- Probe: Pick a layered probe when you need several soil layers. On saline-alkali land, watch EC and pH. Keep the probe off stones and dense roots, and seat it firmly in the soil.
- Burial depth: Set depth from the crop roots and the irrigation method, usually 10～40cm. Several layers show how moisture is spread through the profile.
- Using the data: Read it with weather, crop stage, and soil type. Compare before and after an irrigation to see whether the water did what you expected.
- Delivery: SimtoLink supplies soil-moisture software that draws contour and trend charts, and a farm IoT platform that recommends an irrigation policy and keeps history. Once crop type and area are known, a selection note is available.
Rollout and maintenance
A practical order for putting the sensors in:
SimtoLink can bury the sensors and join them to the platform, so soil-moisture watch and precision irrigation stand up as one system.
Support
SimtoLink helps select the soil sensor and shape the farm IoT plan, including irrigation policy and data analysis, and can deploy on site and join the platform. Product manuals and proposal pricing are available.