Soil Moisture, Temperature and EC Sensor

Want to manage salts in your system? The 5TE Soil Moisture Sensor, available through Labcell (UK), lets you monitor bulk electrical conductivity(EC) in addition to volumetric water content (VWC) and temperature in soil.

In water limited areas, salt management is a serious concern. In these areas, monitoring salt levels can be as important as monitoring soil moisture. The 5TE allows you to measure salt levels through bulk electrical conductivity. EC measurements require good contact between the stainless steel and the soil. Because of large air spaces in potting soil and soil-less media, the 5TE cannot be used accurately in potting soils or soil-less substrates.

All three measurements (water content, temperature, and EC) are made independantly with the 5TE.  Like all ECH2O sensors, the 5TE determines volumetric water content (VWC ) by measuring the dielectric constant of the media using capacitance/frequency domain technology. The sensor uses a 70 MHz frequency, which minimizes salinity and textural effects, making the 5TE accurate in almost any soil. The 5TE measures temperature with an onboard thermistor and electrical conductivity using a stainless steel electrode array. VWC in mineral soils is calculated using the Topp equation; other calibrations provided on request. Temperature and electrical conductivity are factory calibrated for all soil types.

The 5TE's small size makes it easy to install--perfect in field installations. This robust probe can be pushed directly into undisturbed soil to ensure good accuracy.

Serial and SDI-12 communication options mean easy integration with systems run by other data loggers (including Campbell Scientific).