A Comparison of Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensors in Different Substrates for Use in Irrigation Systems

Abstract

Smart irrigation systems play a crucial role in water management, particularly in urban greening applications aimed at mitigating urban heat islands and enhancing environmental sustainability. These systems rely on soil moisture sensors to optimize water usage, ensuring that irrigation is precisely tailored to plant needs. This study evaluates the performance of four commercially available capacitive soil moisture sensors—TEROS 10, SMT50, Scanntronik, and DFROBOT—across three different substrates under controlled laboratory conditions. A total of 380 measurements were conducted to assess sensor accuracy, reliability, and the influence of insertion technique on measurement variability. Results indicate that while all sensors adequately cover the moisture ranges critical for plant health, their accuracy varies significantly, highlighting the necessity of substrate-specific calibration. TEROS 10 exhibited the lowest relative deviation and highest measurement consistency, making it the most reliable among the tested sensors. DFROBOT, despite being the least expensive, performed comparably to SMT50 and Scanntronik in certain conditions. The findings provide valuable insights for selecting and calibrating soil moisture sensors in smart irrigation applications, ultimately contributing to improved water efficiency, plant vitality, and sustainable building-integrated greenery.