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Soilmoisture - Model SAGE -Soil Moisture Indicator
SAGE is a low maintenance tensiometer connected to a high visibility display that can be easily seen from a distance for immediate insight of the soil moisture levels. A no frill soil moisture indicator, SAGE provides simple and low-cost insurance against risk of over- or under-watering crops, shrubs and trees.
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- Seven vertically aligned coin-shaped indicators, each one with a black and bright yellow side. The more yellow coins are shown, the wetter the soil.
- Easy to assemble and to install. All parts come in one package. End-user supplies the right length of ¾” PVC pipe for the desired depth of installation.
- UV and weather resistant for years of operation outside
- No calibration and no training required.
SAGE (Part number 5912F1) kit includes:
- 0-200 KPa gypsum block sensor
- 10ft gauge 14 wire
- Test Plug to verify all seven coins are activated before installation
- Polycarbonate
- Visual display with seven (7) flip coins
- Two (2) AA batteries
¾ inch PVC pipe (not included) ~8 inches (20 cm) to ~120 inches (300 cm)
Irrigation Scheduling and Management
- Optimize irrigation timing
- Tensiometers help determine when to irrigate by showing how much effort plant roots must exert to extract water.
- Avoid over-irrigation and under-irrigation
- Maintains optimal soil moisture levels, preventing both water stress and waterlogging.
- Supports deficit irrigation strategies
- Allows controlled water stress to improve crop quality in certain crops (e.g., grapes, tomatoes).
Water Use Efficiency
- Reduce water waste
- Ensures water is applied only when needed, improving water productivity (kg yield per m³ water).
- Save energy and labor
- Minimizes unnecessary pumping and field labor by timing irrigation accurately.
Soil Moisture Monitoring in the Root Zone
- Assess water availability to plants
- Measures matric potential at specific depths to understand root water access.
- Monitor layered soils or root zones
- Multiple tensiometers at different depths show water dynamics throughout the profile.
Crop-Specific Irrigation Management
- Tailored irrigation for sensitive crops
- Useful in crops that are particularly sensitive to moisture stress (e.g., lettuce, strawberries, potatoes).
- Control irrigation for greenhouse and nursery plants
- Tensiometers help manage water in controlled environments precisely.
Research and Extension
- Soil–plant–water relationship studies
- Used in experiments examining water uptake, root development, and crop response to moisture.
- Extension programs and demonstrations
- Practical tools to educate farmers about smart irrigation practices.
Salinity and Leaching Management (Indirectly)
- Leaching fraction monitoring
- Tensiometers, when combined with electrical conductivity sensors, can help ensure enough water is applied to leach salts beyond the root zone without wasting water.
Advantages of Using Tensiometers in Agriculture
- Real-time, continuous moisture tension readings
- No soil disturbance after installation
- Easy to install and interpret for farmers
- Inexpensive compared to more complex sensors
- Works well in the irrigation range (0 to ~80 kPa)