The irrigation of agriculture crops has a single purpose - to help farmers make more money from their labor and capital. Producing a greater crop yield with higher quality, lower per unit cost, and more money in the bank at harvest, is the purest value of good irrigation scheduling. But that's not all - as attested to by many of our users. The additional benefits include:
  •     Less Water Used
  •     Less Pumping Energy Consumed
  •     Mitigation of Pests and Diseases
  •     Prevention of excessive leaching of mobile plant nutrients
  •     Prevention of groundwater pollution
  •     Lower wear and tear on irrigation systems
  •     Lowering of irrigation labor costs
As we say about IRROMETER IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT --- "Turning Water into Profits"!!

Select a Link or Scroll Down to View the Agriculture Catalog
Irrometer Tensiometers

Watermark Soil Moisture Sensors

Watermark Monitor Data Logger

Irrometer Soil Solution Access Tubes

Download the Irrometer Agriculture Design Guide



®

 Tensiometers

 


 

The IRROMETER tensiometer is the standard in accurate soil moisture measurement, offering growers an inexpensive and reliable means of measuring soil moisture for irrigation scheduling.  An Irrometer will measure the actual soil water tension, which indicates the effort required by root systems to extract water from the soil.  Because the Irrometer is a true measurement of soil water potential, the instrument is not affected by salinity and does not require site calibration.

The Irrometer is available in several models:

The Model "R" is the standard one-piece Irrometer for general use with row, tree, and field crops.  Includes reservoir, air free gauge chamber, and hermetically sealed Irrometer vacuum gauge with dual scale of Centibars and kilopascals (0- 100 CB range).

Model R Brochure (.pdf)
The Model "SR" has a threaded replaceable tip as well as all the features of the Model “R” above.

Model SR Brochure (.pdf)
The Model "RA" is the Model “R” with direct switching capabilities.  Adjustable Moisture level selector switch may be set at any desired moisture level.  The switch will be closed past the setting to actuate the solenoid, time clock, or warning light.  Switch available for AC or DC power, please specify when ordering.

Model RA Brochure (.pdf)
The Model "LT" or “Low Tension” Irrometer incorporates a replaceable “Quick-Flo” tip, and a sealed vacuum gauge which has a full scale of 0-40 cbar.  Designed for situations where tensions above 30 cbar are rarely expected.  Ideal for very coarse solids, or container-media (non-soil), which can be relatively dry at 10-15 cbar or where rapidly changing soil water content needs to be observed.

Model LT Brochure (.pdf)
The Model "MLT", or Miniature LT, is considerably smaller in size than a regular Irrometer.  It is specifically designed for the smaller containers used in the greenhouse market.

Model MLT Brochure (.pdf)
The Model “TG” is for turf areas where underground installation requiring horizontal placement is desirable.
The Model “TGA” has all the features of the Model “TG” but with automatic switching capability.

Standard lengths are 6", 12", 18", 24", 36", or 48" dependent on the rooting depth of the specific crop.  Longer lengths are available by request.

Irrometer models are also available with Remote Sensing Unit (RSU) 4-20 ma transducers for use with electronic data logging equipment, including our Watermark Monitor.  The RSU can be installed in the gauge port of any standard Irrometer and the MLT, thus converting the reading to a 4-20 mA loop current signal.  It can be interfaced with a 4-20 mA loop current terminal or to an A/D card designed to read voltage.  Excitation current requires 9-24 VDC. Available in three calibrations:

0-93 cb for use with Model R, SR, or TG

0-32 cb for use with Model LT or MLT

0-16 cb for use with Model LT or MLT


Click here to download the Irrometer Reference Manual

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Model "SR"



Model "MLT"



RSU Equipped Irrometer



 Soil Moisture Sensors

The Watermark sensor (granular matrix sensor) is an indirect, calibrated method of measuring soil water. It is an electrical resistance type sensor, read by data logging equipment or a Soil Moisture Meter (pictured below, center) which converts the electrical resistance reading to a calibrated reading of Centibars of soil water suction.

Patented in 1985 and manufactured by the Irrometer Company since 1989, this irrigation sensor has been a major break-through in soil moisture measurement technology. It has been the subject of scientific investigation by plant and soil science since the mid-1980's, and has demonstrated itself to be an affordable and practical substitute for tensiometric measurement in most agricultural and landscape irrigation environments.

Features:
  •     0-200 Centibar range
  •     Fully solid state
  •     Will not dissolve in soil
  •     Not affected by freezing temperatures
  •     Internal compensation for commonly found salinity levels
  •     Inexpensive
  •     Easy to use
  •     No maintenance




     

 Monitor








The Watermark Monitor is a battery operated data logger capable of automatically taking and storing sensor readings.  Watermark Monitors can read and store data from:


Watermark Soil Moisture Sensors

RSU Equipped Irrometer Tensiometers

Irrometer Soil Temperature Sensors 

4-20 mA Sensors

On/Off Switches


Each Watermark Monitor can record 8 individual sensors at configurable intervals between once every minute to once daily, with a maximum possible 4096 days of continuously stored information.  Temperature Sensor information is used to automatically compensate Watermark Sensor readings for temperature changes.

Current readings can be viewed in the field, or collected data can be downloaded by a PC or hand held device and displayed graphically for analysis with WaterGraph software, provided free with each Watermark Monitor.
Radio telemetry and modem connectivity options are also available for retrieving data from Watermark Monitors.

The standard 900M Watermark Monitor includes 7 Watermark Sensors, 1 Temperature Sensor, Software, Serial Cable, and Instructions.
WaterGraph Software, showing Watermark Sensors responding to an irrigation recorded with an On/Off switch
(displayed as blue background)



Radio Telemetry

Irrometer now offers FCC approved 1 watt, 900 MHz Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) Radio Telemetry options for remote collection of data from Watermark Monitors.  With the click of a mouse on a PC connected to a 900M-BR Base Radio module, retrieve data effortlessly from any number of local Watermark Monitors connected to our 900M-FR Field Radio Module.  Radio line of sight ranges exceed 10 miles and Repeater Radio Modules are available for locations blocked by geography.

For Applications outside of the U.S., 100 mW 900 MHz and 50 mW 2.4 GHz Radio Modules are available with shorter ranges and less power to conform to local standards.

Power for the Radio Modules is provided by a solar battery pack mounted as a single package with the Watermark monitor, easily mounted to a pole or post and connected to the Radio Module by a single, weatherproof, cable of up to 50 feet in length.

A radio specific version of WaterGraph software is included which allows for easy graphical organization and selection of remote Radio Modules for downloading data, as well as for quick and simple configuration of Radio Modules.


PDA/Pocket PC Data Shuttle
Irrometer Data Shuttle software for Palm and Pocket PC allows easy retrieval of data from Watermark Monitors in the field.  Just open the program, connect the cable, and select "Download" to retrieve data from multiple monitors.  Sync up the PDA and import the files with WaterGraph Software to view and collect soil moisture data.

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 Soil Solution Access Tube 

Soil water sampling tool for fertigation management
The SSAT is a suction lysimeter that allows extraction of soil water samples from various depths for measurement of nitrate levels, salinity, EC, and other chemical elements.  When used in conjunction with tissue analysis for calibration, nutrient management practices can be developed which allow the grower to adjust the rate and timing of fertilizer applications, resulting in increased production with decreased fertilizer costs and reduced nutrient leaching.

SSAT's are available in standard lengths between 6" and 72" and include a single suction line, stopper, and finger clamp.

Tubes are available with either our standard 1 bar ceramic tip for use in medium to heavy soils, or with our 1/2 bar "LT" ceramic tip for use with lighter soils and potting media.





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