SOIL MOISTURE DETECTOR

Calibrating of the equipment

Presenter :
Index no

Group no : 06

We have selected
Resistive sensor
detector

Soil resistivity depends on

soil moisture
Temperature
Soil type
Salt content of the soil

We are going to modify the resistive

method in a way such that we can find
the soil moisture using different
resistivity standard levels for different
soil types.
(Temperature variation can be
neglected because temperature change
throughout the year in Sri Lanka is
considerably low compared to other
countries.)

Circuit Diagram

Calibrating knobs
nob 1

nob 2
For appropriate moisture
level in standard unit

For selecting soil types

 When we need to find a moisture

level in a soil we need to turn knob 2
relevant soil type and turn knob1 in
to relevant appropriate moisture
level.

Calibrating knobs
Select a soil form knob 2
Identify a known appropriate moisture
level in the soil.(10cm^3 moisture in
100cm^3 soil etc.)
Turn knob1 until alarm rings.
Now that position of the knob will
indicate that relevant moisture level.
Repeat this operation for various
moister levels for various soils.
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Identifying a known appropriate moisture

1. Collect different soil samples and

weigh them.
2. Heat up samples and weigh again.
3. Then find the moisture levels of the
soil samples.

How to heat up the soil?

Microwave Oven Method :
Place approximately 0.9kg of moist soil
in a polypropylene bag.
Leave the top open and place in the
center of a microwave oven.
Treat for 2 minutes on full power of
about 650 watts.
After treatment close the top of the bag
and allow the soil to cool before removing
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Soil sampling volume

V1

Soil sample initial weight

(with jar)
Dried sample weight (with
jar)
Jar weight

WI

Mass of water

Mw

Mass of dry soil

Mm

WD
WJ

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Mass of water = WI WD = Mw
Soil moisture

=(WI WD)/V1

kg/m^3
or

=(WI WD)/ Mm

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