Soil Calibration
Different soil types have different 'soil moisture behavior'. Every soil type has an 'ideal' window (percentage range) of soil moisture - which is called 'plant available water'. At the low end, plants will wilt. At the high end (field capacity), nutrients will wash out and less air will be available for the roots. Not many people know that these windows can vary greatly, based on variations in size of the pores in the different soils. This is why calibration is so important.
The Sensoterra sensors work in all soil types. However, the right calibration is crucial for improving the accuracy and precision of the soil moisture measurements. Sensoterra has its own laboratory, based in Utrecht, where soils are analyzed to add new calibration curves to continuously improve soil moisture accuracy.
We’ve put together this reader to support your decisions on selecting the correct soil type by sensor.
Download the free soil calibration guide
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Calibrated Soil Types
The following standard calibrations for the soil types and multiple variations are available: clay, clay loam, clay loam silt, saline clay, sand, sandy loam, sand, loam, loamy sand, peat and coco peat.
Contact us at [email protected] with any specific calibration requests.
* Sensoterra sensors have their data calibrated for the most common soil types in the market, indicated in the soil texture diagram (in blue).
Volumetric Soil Moisture Content
To understand soil moisture data can be simple when you know the specific volumetric water content for your soil. We've put together Soil Calibration Sheets based on each soil type available in our library. With this data you can clearly see the high- and low- thresholds for irrigation based on the properties of your selected soil.
Below is an example of Clay 1 (as seen in the Soil Triangle above).
Note: Saturation point is the maximum volume of water that the soil can hold
What is Volumetric Soil Moisture Content? A method to provide the percent values of the soil moisture content of the soil. Also known as the ratio of water volume to soil volume.
How does it work? The Volumetric Soil Moisture percentages also follow the 'Too Dry', 'Healthy' and 'Too Wet' key, allowing careful management of soil moisture levels in your soil for better irrigation decisions.
How to read Volumetric Soil Moisture Content?
'Too Dry' zone (Orange) = not enough water in the soil for plant growth
'Healthy' zone (Light blue) = greatest zone to keep your soil-moisture thresholds at, for greatest plant growth
'Too Wet' zone (Dark blue) = too much water in the soil for plant growth
Find more information and examples of Volumetric Soil Moisture Content for each soil type on this presentation.
