Need a new soil meter but aren’t sure where to start? Instrument Choice Scientists have reviewed an extensive range of soil moisture meters to find the “cream of the crop” from the following categories:
- Analogue soil moisture meters
- Budget digital meters
- WIFI compatible meters
- Bluetooth enabled meters
- Long-probe soil meters; and
- Data logging meters.
Soil Moisture
Soil moisture is an essential factor for the growth and development of healthy plants. Insufficient moisture means your plant will wilt, lose leaves, grow slowly – even die! On the other hand, when your soil is saturated, roots can rot or die due to a lack of available oxygen. Ideal soil moisture varies between plant species and depends on your soil type.
Scientist’s Tip: Check the moisture requirements of your plant variety for each soil type.
Soil moisture meters are invaluable tools for horticulturalists, farmers, groundskeepers, hobby gardeners, and indoor plant enthusiasts. Using a soil moisture meter will help ensure water is applied as required, thereby optimising plant development.
The Best Soil Moisture Meters
Instrument Choice Scientists have listed the best standalone (i.e. not connected to a weather station) soil moisture meters and outlined their best features.
If after reviewing the following meters you need help or have further questions, please contact us.
The Best Analogue Soil Moisture Meter
The measurement of pH and soil moisture levels is almost too easy with this popular, user-friendly meter. A robust 30cm probe accurately samples moisture at varying soil depths.
Watch how straightforward it is to measure soil moisture and pH with the ICZD06 here.
Moisture Reading Scale: View moisture levels on a scale of 0 – 8 from an easy-to-read display.
Applications: Instrument Choice Scientists recommend this device for the home garden, indoor plants, general agricultural use, or classroom experiments.
|
The Best Budget Digital Soil Moisture Meter
Heavy-duty yet budget-friendly. The PMS-714 is a popular choice for straightforward and accurate soil moisture measurements. The 20cm long probe measures at different depths, providing a comprehensive profile of soil moisture levels.
Moisture Reading Scale: Results are displayed as a percentage. Measurement range: 0 - 50%.
Applications: Indoor and outdoor home use, landscaping, education, farming, and more.
|
The Best WIFI Soil Moisture Meter
Require a long-term, set-and-forget option for a home or professional setting? Look no further! The IC-Agribun offers no-fuss, smart soil moisture monitoring at an affordable price.
This intelligent meter takes only seconds to set up. Once installed, you can remotely monitor your soil moisture 24/7. Further, you can configure a web application to send email and text notifications if temperature or moisture levels breach your pre-set limits.
Moisture Reading Scale: 0 - 100% soil moisture range.
Applications: Home use, farming, landscaping, and more.
|
The Best Bluetooth Soil Moisture Meter
The IC-MPKit-406B rapidly determines the Volumetric Soil Water Content (VSW%) of soil samples. This sought-after, reliable and portable soil moisture sensor doesn’t need regular calibration, and accuracy is unaffected by temperature.
Moisture content readings are sent conveniently to an Android mobile application via Bluetooth for storage and later recall or direct downloading to a computer.
Check out the Instrument Choice scientists comprehensive review of the MPKit here.
Moisture Reading Scale: 0–100 VSW% (Volumetric Soil Water %)
Applications: Commonly used for measuring sports fields, irrigation monitoring, academic research, and more.
|
The Best Long-Probe Soil Moisture Sensor
This soil moisture meter will endure anything you throw its way.
The rugged, reliable IC-M-350 features a 76.2cm stainless steel probe and weatherproof design. Recommended for straightforward and reliable moisture measurements – from the soil surface to root depths.
Discover the features, functions, and how to take a soil moisture measurement in this video
Moisture Reading Scale: Measures the entire moisture range displayed as a percentage from 0 -100%.
Applications: Chosen by professionals - such as golf course landscapers, irrigation consultants, farmers.
|
The Best Datalogging Soil Moisture Meter
The ML3 ThetaKit is a professional and portable tool for highly accurate (± 1%), near-instantaneous measurements of moisture levels in soils and substrates. Minimal soil disturbance makes it an excellent meter for monitoring turf. The IC-ML3 boasts storage of up to 1500 readings, each with a location ID attached.
Moisture Reading Scale: 0 - 100% of soil water content.
Applications: A complete soil moisture analysis kit for sports groundskeepers, irrigation management, and scientific research.
|
Conclusion
Instrument Choice Scientists recommend each of the soil moisture meters listed as outstanding in their respective field.
For more information on any of the soil moisture meters listed above or for help to find the best meter for your needs, speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! We’re here to help! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].
