Soil moisture sensor

Reflected microwave radiation is affected by the soil moisture and is used for remote sensing in hydrology and agriculture.

[citation needed] In urban and suburban areas, landscapes and residential lawns are using soil moisture sensors to interface with an irrigation controller.

[4] Golf courses are using soil moisture sensors to increase the efficiency of their irrigation systems to prevent over-watering and leaching of fertilizers and other chemicals into the ground.

[citation needed] Soil moisture sensors are used in numerous research applications, e.g. in agricultural science and horticulture including irrigation planning, climate research, or environmental science including solute transport studies and as auxiliary sensors for soil respiration measurements.

[5] Relatively cheap and simple devices that do not require a power source are available for checking whether plants have sufficient moisture to thrive.