Soil sensor could reduce irrigation water by 35 per cent

Developed by engineers at the University of Connecticut, the small sensors take readings from different depths of soil and feed the data back to an instrument on the surface via a wired connection. According to the UConn team, the $2 sensors are easy to insert into the earth, as well as significantly less expensive than alternatives that are currently available. 

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The technology, described in the Journal of Sensors and Actuators, was tested on the university’s farm over a ten-month period. According to the team, it performed well compared with commercial sensors that ranged from $100-$1000, which were tested alongside the prototypes. What’s more, the sensors are small enough to be distributed easily around the world and could help address global problems related to irrigation and crop health.