►
From YouTube: Squeeze Every Drop - Moisture Sensors
Description
Robert Reaves discusses how soil moisture sensors take the guesswork out of how much and when to water. Test results from around the country demonstrate a proven 50 percent or more water savings.
A
Hi
I'm
Robert
Reeves
with
the
city
of
Oklahoma,
City
Utilities
Department,
did
you
know
one
of
the
easiest
ways
to
save
water
in
the
landscape
is
to
install
a
soil
moisture
sensor
with
your
irrigation
controller,
soil,
moisture,
sensors,
take
the
guesswork
out
of
how
much
the
water
and
when
to
water,
they're
affordable.
They
have
University,
proven
results
and
they'll
work
with
just
about
any
brand
of
irrigation
controller
soil,
moisture
sensors
prevent
irrigation
until
about
half
the
soil.
Moisture
is
depleted
from
the
root
zone,
the
result
deeper
roots
and
healthier
plants.
A
When
there
is
plenty
of
moisture
available
in
the
root
zone,
it
can
be
several
days
or
even
weeks
before
irrigation
is
needed
depending
upon
the
season.
Let's
define
some
terms
that
apply
to
soil
moisture
sensor.
The
first
term
is
saturation
point.
Let's
imagine
this.
Sponge
is
the
root
zone
of
your
landscape.
Right
now,
this
sponge
is
at
the
saturation
point.
All
the
pores
in
the
sponge
are
filled
and
the
sponge
cannot
hold
any
water
when
soil
reaches
a
saturation
point.
Water
runs
off
the
landscape.
A
Our
second
term
can
be
defined
once
all
of
the
water
stops
draining
from
the
sponge.
This
is
called
field
capacity.
Field
capacity
is
the
maximum
amount
of
water
a
soil
can
hold.
The
third
term
is
wilting
point.
It's
like
this
sponge.
Without
any
water
water
at
wilting
point
is
held
so
tightly
by
soil
particles.
It
is
unavailable
to
the
plans
with
unavailable
water
in
the
root
zone.
The
plant
dies,
soil
moisture
must
be
maintained
above
the
wilting
point
for
most
plants.
That
means
water
should
be
applied.
A
What
about
fifty
percent
of
the
available
water
is
depleted.
The
soil
texture
in
your
landscape
will
determine
the
rate
at
which
your
soil
can
absorb
water
and
how
long
it
can
retain
soil.
Moisture
most
of
the
soils
and
the
Oklahoma
City
area
are
clay.
Soils
that
absorb
water
very
slowly
about
one
tenth
of
an
inch
per
hour.
Clay
soils
have
small
pore
spaces,
whereas
sandy
soils
have
large
pore
spaces
and
can
take
in
about
a
half
inch
of
water
per
hour.
There's
an
easy
way
for
you
to
determine
the
soil.
Texture
in
your
yard.
A
Add
a
cup
of
soil
to
a
jar
along
with
a
teaspoon
of
dish.
Soap
fill
the
jar
with
water,
just
a
few
inches
from
the
top.
Then
gently
Rock,
the
jar
back
and
forth
for
one
to
two
minutes
and
with
the
dish
soap
in
there
it
will
help
disperse
the
soil
particles
leave
the
jar
undisturbed
overnight.
When
you
come
back,
some
of
the
soil
particles
will
have
settled
out.
The
sand.
Particles
are
the
heaviest
and
they
settle
out.
A
First,
they
will
be
at
the
bottom
of
the
jar,
the
next
silt
and
then
finally,
clay
it
may
take
up
to
one
or
two
weeks
before
all
the
clay
particles
will
have
settled.
On
top
of
all
the
other
soil
types,
the
ratio
of
sand
silt
and
clay
will
give
you
an
idea
of
your
soil
texture.
However,
if
you'd
like
to
get
more
information
about
your
soil,
such
as
pH
talk
to
your
local
County,
Extension
Office
with
soil,
moisture
sensors,
how
much
water
can
you
save?
A
Much
of
this
depends
on
how
much
you
were
watering
now
test
results
from
the
University
of
Arkansas
University
of
Florida
and
New
Mexico
State
University
all
showed
an
average
fifty
percent
water
savings
in
residential
and
University
turf
plot
studies.
The
results
were
compared
to
controllers,
with
no
adjustment,
as
well
as
controllers,
where
rain
sensors
were
in
use.
There
are
two
types
of
soil
sensor
products
that
we
recommend.
The
first
is
a
wireless
soil
sensor
that
transmits
soil,
moisture
information
back
to
receiver
mounted
next
to
the
controller.
A
The
second
type
of
soil
moisture
sensor
is
like
this
rainbird
smrt,
why
that
is
buried
into
the
ground.
It's
been
wired
into
the
common
wire
of
an
electric
valve
that
controls
your
irrigation
system.
The
common
wire
sends
soil
moisture
sensor
back
to
receiver
mounted
on
the
wall.
Next
to
the
controller,
like
the
wireless
version,
this
type
of
sensor
is
manufactured
out
of
heavy
gauge
stainless
steel
after
installation.
Every
soil.
Moisture
sensor
must
go
through
a
simple
calibration
process
where
the
sensor
learns.
A
The
moisture
content
of
the
soil
always
refer
to
the
manufacturer's
instructions
on
how
the
calibration
process
works.
How
many
soil
moisture
sensors
do
you
need
to
install
on
your
irrigation
system?
One
sensor
installed
in
a
representative
area
of
your
landscape
works
just
fine.
If
most
of
your
landscape
is
full
Sun
bermudagrass,
then
you
install
the
soil
moisture
sensor
in
that
area
of
your
yard.
A
Soil,
moisture
sensor
products
are
interchangeable
between
brands
of
controllers,
giving
you
the
flexibility
to
choose
the
sensor
style
that
works
best
for
you,
no
matter
what
brand
new
controller
you
have
hanging
on
the
wall
like
everything
else,
with
an
irrigation
system,
soil,
moisture,
sensors
need
maintenance
to
ensure
they
are
working
properly.
Wireless
sensors
have
batteries
that
should
be
changed
out
two
times
a
year.
Both
wired
and
wireless
sensors
should
be
recalibrated
once
a
year
to
for
the
city
of
Oklahoma
City
I'm
robert
reaves.
Let's
squeeze
every
drop.