In a field study at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln West Central Research and Extension Center, we evaluated eight electromagnetic soil moisture sensors by comparing their readings to a locally calibrated neutron probe.
We found that all eight sensors tracked soil moisture trends successfully, but the manufacturer’s calibration for some sensors exhibited large errors. Sensors that successfully determine true soil moisture content at just one point in time might be an important first step in improving their accuracy.
Publication: Singh, J., T. Lo, D.R. Rudnick, T.J. Dorr, C.A. Burr, R. Werle, T.M. Shaver, and F. Muñoz-Arriola (2018). Performance assessment of factory and field calibrations for electromagnetic sensors in a loam soil. Agricultural Water Management, 196:87-98