Irrometer Company, Inc. products

Measuring soil moisture allows a grower to make informed irrigation scheduling decisions that will improve yields and quality while reducing water, fertilizer, labor, and energy costs. The IRROMETER SR measures soil moisture by interacting with the soil through a porous ceramic tip. As soil dries, it tries to pull water out of the instrument, creating vacuum measured by the gauge. This is a direct, physical measurement of the same tension plant roots experience, requiring no electronics, batteries, or calibrations to operate. IRROMETER tensiometers have been on the market since 1951 and are proven by decades of commercial usage and field research, trusted enough to serve as the calibration standard for other sensors.

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Measuring soil moisture allows a grower to make informed irrigation scheduling decisions that will improve yields and quality while reducing water, fertilizer, labor, and energy costs. MLT IRROMETER’s are designed to operate in conditions where tensions above 30 cb (kPa) are not expected and compact size is needed such as containers or pots in greenhouse applications.

“AVS" Automatic Vacuum Switches are designed for use on IRROMETER instruments and provide direct switching capabilities according to soil moisture status. Soil water tension readings greater than the moisture set point can activate an irrigation valve solenoid, time clock or warning device. A switch mechanism is mounted on the instrument body and can be field adjusted by hand to the desired set point. The switch scale reads in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of soil water tension.

In use since 1978, the patented WATERMARK sensor is a granular matrix sensor used to measure soil water tension. Water in the soil exchanges with the proprietary matrix inside of the sensor, creating a relationship between measured resistance and soil water tension. The sensor consists of corrosion resistant electrodes imbedded within a granular matrix, contained in a perforated stainless-steel enclosure. Power (normally 2.5 to 5V) is applied to the WATERMARK to obtain a resistance value. Reading devices use published calibrations to convert the measured resistance into centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of soil water tension.

Real-Time Data on any Device. Our new IRROcloud solution is a simple, affordable, and reliable solution for automatically collecting sensor data and storing it in the cloud for quick access at any time. Using only four C batteries with a 2+ year life, the IC-10 Sensor Monitor reads up to 10 sensors and reports directly to IRROcloud without any need for additional gateways or devices. With no need for a solar panel or height requirement to communicate with other devices, the IC-10 can easily be installed in orchards or beneath center pivots. The IRROcloud web platform provides an intuitive interface with a quick reference dashboard, graphing suite, and optional frost alerting.

The WATERMARK Monitor is our stand-alone data logger, providing users with a reliable, simple, and effective means of collecting information in the field. As well as recording data, the display on the Monitor and can be used to view readings at any time for spot checking conditions. The Monitor records soil moisture, soil temperature, irrigation on/off status, and rain gauge counts for an accurate record of the performance of your irrigation schedule. Either Watermark 200SS sensors or RSU-V equipped IRROMETER tensiometers can be used to collect soil moisture data. Information can be downloaded directly to a computer via on-board USB port with the included WaterGraph software, which also includes graphing features for visualization. Downloaded data is stored in a CSV file which can also be accessed by spreadsheet or text editing programs.

Handheld meter for reading 200SS WATERMARK sensors. Adjustable for soil temperature variations. Touchpad operating panel with LCD display.

The WaterSwitch works as an add-on device for existing valves or controllers to improve irrigation efficiency based on plant demand. The module will prevent irrigation cycles by signaling the controller’s sensor circuit or interrupting the solenoid power, when the soil moisture status is wetter than the adjustable set point. The kit includes one moisture sensor and has nine moisture set points allowing for a wide range of variation in plant and soil type. An indicator light flashes to show status.

The SSAT is a suction lysimeter that allows extraction of soil water samples from various depths for measurement of nitrate levels, salinity, EC, and other chemical elements. When used in conjunction with tissue analysis for calibration, nutrient management practices can be developed which allow the grower to adjust the rate and timing of fertilizer applications, resulting in increased production with decreased fertilizer costs and reduced nutrient leaching.