Tag: soilsensors

Enhancing Landscape Sustainability with Soil Sensors

Posted on by Nina Forest

Landscapes are integral in any ecosystem for many reasons: beautification, environmental purification, noise reduction, and improved quality of life. On a more practical level, landscaping is also expensive–both in execution and upkeep. As more and more businesses strive to reduce their carbon footprint, the landscaping industry has pioneered many innovative and sustainable changes.  Despite landscaping relying solely on resources that are not infinite, the commercial landscaping industry has generated innovations in irrigation, fertilizer, and drainage systems to make landscaping more eco-friendly. Among these inventions are soil sensors. Even if your landscaping operations have energy renewing and sustainable practices, adding soil sensors to the mix will only magnify the durability and preservation efforts of your landscaping management.

While soil sensors are a relatively new product to grace agricultural markets, soil probes have quickly proven their effectiveness in cost and resource efficiency. Once inserted into the soil, most soil probes measure moisture levels, salinity, ambient temperature, and light levels. This data is transmitted to a cell phone or desktop and allows for adjustments to be made in irrigation practices. In landscaping, soil sensors have been found to reduce water usage, promote healthy plant growth, and can help combat the damages from climate changes. A 2012 study done by the General Services Administration found that soil sensors can reduce upwards of 40% of water waste. Not only do soil sensors conserve resource expenditure in landscapes, but they also promote comprehensive sustainability in landscaping management.

In addition to conserving water usage, it is also worth noting that soil sensors are incredibly accessible and user-friendly. Compared to the setup required for irrigation systems, soil sensors are much easier to install and understand. Soil probes are also fairly affordable and work in tandem with whatever irrigation system your landscaping employs. From a business perspective, soil sensors also differentiate landscaping companies from their competitors and encourage continuous savings and conservation for customers. Simply put, soil sensors are likely the future of sustainability in landscaping. With soil sensors, landscapes appear greener and wallets are able to stay green with lifelong savings and resource efficiency.

The Tech Your Timed Irrigation Systems Are Missing

Posted on by Nina Forest

Drip irrigation systems are beloved by many for their ability to conserve water and simplify the irrigation process. While drip systems certainly beat out other irrigation systems in terms of water conservation, did you know you could actually be saving even more water in timed irrigation with soil sensors? Soil probes work in tandem with your timed systems but are able to retrieve data based on your crops’ relationship to climate and irrigation patterns. In short, all irrigation systems require a bit of approximation in set-up and irrigating. Soil sensors take the guesswork out of timed irrigation systems and will leave your plants more nourished and your water source less exerted. 

When inserted near crops, soil sensors are able to see below the soil and send data to your smartphone or desktop. Drip irrigation provides a steady source of direct water but cannot account for your crops evolving needs, especially when considering changes in climate and sunlight levels. Soil probes help you better understand your plants in ways a timed irrigation system cannot. When paired together, you can adjust your irrigation to meet the changes in your crops as they grow.

Soil sensors measure soil moisture levels, soil salinity, light, and ambient temperature. In other words, with soil sensors, you will receive detailed information on if your crops need more/less water, if your soil needs more fertilizer, if your plants are experiencing any stress, if water is evaporating too quickly from the soil, and if your crops are getting enough sunlight. These are all indicators that drip irrigation cannot measure but can benefit greatly from knowing.

Timed irrigation systems are superheroes for streamlining the irrigation process. Think of soil sensors as your systems’ trusty sidekick–able to account for the crops your irrigation system oversees and make adjustments when necessary. Together, drip irrigation systems and soil probes are a powerful duo, and more than that, they are also an affordable one. Typically, installing a drip irrigation system can cost around $40. While soil sensors can be costly, our soil probes use a low-frequency measuring technique that allows us to produce sensors at a considerably lower price. While you may be hesitant to add yet another gadget to your soil, sensors provide a number of informative benefits. In the long run, sensors will save you money by allowing you to conserve water and reduce long-term wear in drip irrigation systems.