At Instrument Choice we offer a wide array of soil moisture meters and sensors and the types we supply include capacitance, standing wave, and TDT sensors. The relevant sensor types are covered below:

Capacitance:
Capacitance sensors use capacitance to measure the dielectric permittivity of a surrounding medium. When connecting this capacitor (made of metal plates or rods imbedded in the soil) together with an oscillator to form an electrical circuit, changes in soil moisture can be detected by changes in the circuit operating frequency. This then gives a moisture content within the soil.

Standing Wave:
Uses the standing wave principle to indicate the ratio of two or more substances forming a body of material, each substance having a different dielectric constant (Ka). The moisture measurement of the material is based upon the fact that in a water:soil:air matrix, the dielectric constant is dominated by the amount of water present. Then the soil water content can be measured exactly because changes in water content of the soil result in changes in the dielectric constant of the soil.

TDT (Time Domain Transmissometry) Sensors:
These sensors measure the permittivity of the soil by sending an electromagnetic signal along a waveguide and measuring the propagation time of that wave. This propagation time depends on the soil dielectric properties, which are mainly governed by the water content of the soil surrounding the probes. The sensor can then provide accurate apparent permittivity measurements, which are then used to establish soil moisture.
The advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:
-Can be connected to a range of DC loggers (DC Output signal)
-Relatively inexpensive when compared to other measurements
-Accurate after specific soil calibration

-Only covers a small sensing area
-Requires good contact between the soil and the sensor
-Installation requires care to ensure there are no air gaps
-Larger sensitivity to temperature, clay content and air gaps than other sensor types

-Very accurate with calibration
-Larger measurement zone of influence than capacitance probes
-Not affected by salinity unless it is greater than 9dS/m

-Higher initial purchase cost
-Much longer life span from the sensor

-Larger sensing volume than other types of sensors (0.7 to 6L)
-Are relatively low cost due to standard circuitry

-Reduced precision due to the generated pulse being distorted during its transmission

-Ideal for Landscape managers, irrigation consultants and farmers

-Has scales for clay, loam and sand

-Ideal for sand stockpiles, and is accurate in virtually all soil types

-Has inbuilt datalogging capabilities

-Will provide years of service

-Large sample area

-No maintenance required

-Remains stable as soil temperature changes