Product Review: TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor
The Instrument Choice Team of Scientists regularly reviews new and popular products, so when searching for the perfect scientific instrument for your application, you can make more informed decisions.
This in-depth review details the TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor, a kit that combines a TDR-315 Soil Moisture Sensor with an easy to use handheld interface for instant readings out in the field.
About Acclima
Since its foundation in 2001, Acclima has been busy designing and manufacturing instruments that save farmers and researchers millions in irrigation and fertilisation costs without hindering production. This extraordinary achievement is a result of Acclima’s cutting edge technology incorporated in devices such as its accurate time-domain reflectometer (TDR) soil water content sensors and the SDI-12 data logger.
Introducing the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor
The IC-RD1200 combines Acclima’s patented TDR-315 Soil Moisture Sensor with an easy-to-use handheld interface for instantly capturing accurate readings in the field. No calibration is required, and the sensor’s measurements are completely unaffected by changes in soil chemistry.
IC-RD1200 Measurement Parameters
- Volumetric Water Content (0 to 100% with 0.1% resolution)
- Permittivity (1 to 80 with 0.1 unit resolution)
- Bulk EC (0 to 5000 µS/cm - resolution depends on reading range)
- Pore Water EC (0 to 55000 µS/cm); and
- Temperature (- 40 to +60°C with 0.1°C resolution).
Key Features and Benefits of the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor
- Precise Readings: The IC-RD1200 derives volumetric water content from ±1% of true permittivity in soils up to 4 dS/m Bulk EC.
- Rapid Measurements: The rapid moisture sensing time of less than 1 second allows you to cover more ground and take more measurements in less time.
- Conveniently calibration-free: No soil specific calibration is required - the IC-RD1200 works accurately in ALL soil types.
- Fast GPS: This handheld sensor connects to GPS in only a few seconds for taking GPS-located measurements.
- Unaffected by chemistry and composition: Moisture readings remain stable even as soil types, salinity, fertiliser content and temperature change.
- Large sample volume: The TDR-315 sensor measures an impressive sample volume - up to 150 mlL!
- Low power consumption: A rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion battery ensures you can take plenty of measurements between charges.
- Exceptional reliability: A rugged 316 stainless-steel waveguide means you can rely on Acclima’s famous reliability and an expected in-service life of over 20 years!
- Simple data storage/export: Your soil moisture sensor’s collected data can be stored on the device and later exported via the included USB thumb drive to a PC or Mac.
- Irrigation recommendations: The meter’s instant soil analysis also provides recommended irrigation moisture thresholds based on your soil type.
- Waveform Capture: At the touch of a button, you can view your soil measurement's full TDR returned waveform.
IC-RD1200 TDR-315H Digital Soil Moisture Sensor– Specifications
|
Volumetric Water Content |
|
|
Range |
0% to 100% |
|
Resolution |
0.1% VWC |
|
Repeatability (RMS deviation): |
0.07% |
|
Reporting Accuracy: |
Coarse and medium textured soils: ±1 percentage point |
|
Stability of VWC readings vs Bulk EC |
< 1 percentage point 0 to 2000 µS/cm BEC |
|
Permittivity |
|
|
Range |
1 to 80 relative permittivity units |
|
Resolution |
0.1 relative permittivity units |
|
Repeatability (RMS deviation): |
0.07 permittivity units |
|
Reporting Accuracy: |
Coarse and medium textured soils: ±1 relative permittivity units Fine textured soils: ±2 relative permittivity units |
|
Stability of permittivity readings vs Bulk EC |
< 1 relative permittivity unit 0 to 2000 µS/cm BEC |
|
Temperature |
|
|
Range |
-40C to +60°C |
|
Resolution |
0.1 °C |
|
Repeatability (RMS deviation): |
0.01 % °C |
|
Reporting Accuracy: |
±0.25 °C |
|
Bulk Electrical Conductivity |
|
|
Range |
0 to 5000 µS/cm (Ɵ, ɛ repeatability degrades above 2000 µS/cm BEC) |
|
Resolution |
1 µS/cm |
|
Repeatability (RMS deviation): |
3 µS/cm |
|
Reporting Accuracy: |
0 to 1000 µS/cm 25 µS/cm |
IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor– Applications
Instrument Choice scientists recommend the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor for the following professions and applications:
- Farmers and various agricultural purposes
- Horticulturalists
- Parks and golf course management
- Landscapers and gardeners; and
- Irrigation planning and management.
Conclusion
What do our scientists conclude about the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor?
“Easy-to-take and accurate measurements that are unaffected by soil composition or chemistry, minimal maintenance, and an expected service life of 20 years make the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor is a professional soil moisture reader that’s exceptional value for money.”
Go to the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor product page
For more information about the RD1200 or assistance finding the best soil moisture sensor for your application, speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].
IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor Videos
How to Set Up and Export Data from the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor
Unboxing the IC-RD1200 TDR Digital Soil Moisture Sensor
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