Irrometer Tensiometer

Irrometer tensiometers measure soil water tension, also called soil moisture tension: how hard plant roots have to work to extract water from the soil. The analog gauge provides a continuous, at-a-glance reading without electronics, making it useful for monitoring irrigation and comparing moisture conditions at different depths in the root zone. Want to understand the readings? See our Measuring & Managing Moisture in Living Soil for a deeper explanation of soil moisture tension, mbar/cbar/kPa, sensor placement, volumetric water content (VWC), and using moisture measurements to manage irrigation. Available Options ＋ Choose the model for the soil or growing media you are measuring, then select the length for the depth you want to monitor. Low Tension (LT), 0–40 cbar — for potting mixes, living soil, containers, raised beds, and other relatively wet or coarse growing media. Available in 6″ and 12″ lengths. Standard (SR), 0–100 cbar — for native and field soils where a wider tension range is useful. Available in 6″ and 12″ lengths. How It Works ＋ The water-filled Irrometer exchanges moisture through its ceramic tip until it comes into equilibrium with the surrounding soil. As the soil dries, tension inside the instrument increases and the gauge reading rises. After irrigation, the reading falls as the soil becomes wetter. Irrometer gauges read in centibars (cbar). Soil water tension can also be expressed in kilopascals (kPa) or millibars (mbar): 1 cbar = 1 kPa = 10 mbar. Choosing a Length ＋ Length determines the depth of the ceramic tip and therefore the part of the soil profile you are measuring. A 6″ Irrometer monitors closer to the surface, while a 12″ Irrometer reaches farther into the root zone. Using Irrometers at more than one depth can show how deeply an irrigation event recharged the root zone instead of relying on a single measurement near the surface. Service Kit Options ＋ Service kits make setup and maintenance easier by helping pull a vacuum inside the Irrometer. This removes trapped air, helps identify leaks, and speeds instrument response. Both service-kit options include Irrometer fluid/dye and instructions. Basic Service Kit — syringe, fluid/dye, and instructions for a simple way to pull a vacuum. Pump Service Kit — hand pump, fluid/dye, and instructions for faster vacuum service and leak checking. None — Irrometer only. Important Notes ＋ Irrometers must be filled and free of trapped air to respond properly. Good contact between the ceramic tip and the surrounding soil is important for a representative reading. Instrument length affects both measurement depth and the analog reading, so compare readings with the Irrometer length in mind. One service kit can be used to maintain multiple Irrometers.

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Our recommended Irrometer for deeper living-soil beds and large containers. The 12-inch Low Tension (LT) model measures soil water tension farther down in the soil profile, helping you see what is happening below the surface. In beds and containers with soil profiles 12 inches deep or deeper, a dry-looking surface does not tell you how wet the lower soil remains. Measuring lower in the profile helps you make watering decisions based on the moisture where the ceramic tip is installed. Why choose the LT model? Low-tension gauge: 0–40 centibars (cbar), with 1-cbar increments for reading the wetter range used in living soil and potting mixes. Deeper measurement: the 12-inch instrument helps monitor moisture lower in beds and large containers. Continuous analog reading: check soil water tension at a glance without batteries. What the reading tells you The water-filled instrument exchanges moisture with the surrounding soil through its ceramic tip. As the soil dries, the gauge reading rises. As the soil becomes wetter, it falls. The reading represents the soil around the tip, rather than an average for the whole bed. Place the ceramic tip at the depth you want to monitor, fully surrounded by soil with good contact. In deeper beds, a second measurement closer to the surface can help you compare moisture at different depths. Learn where to measure and how to interpret your readings: Measuring & Managing Moisture in Living Soil. Setup and service Fill and prepare the Irrometer before installation. Trapped air and poor contact between the tip and soil can interfere with its response. Recommended: Basic Service Kit Our preferred service kit uses a simple syringe pump to prepare and maintain your Irrometer. It includes Irrometer fluid and instructions. One kit can service multiple Irrometers. Sold separately. View the Basic Service Kit → Prefer a hand pump? The Pump Service Kit is also available separately. Read the Irrometer instruction manual. Looking for another model or length? Shop all LT and SR configurations, or browse Irrometers and accessories.

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The IRROMETER Model LT (Low Tension) tensiometer was designed to operate in coarse sandy soils and non-soil growing media. With a range of 0-40 centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa), this instrument is for use in situations where tensions above 30 cb (kPa) are rarely expected. Gauge increments of 1 cb (kPa) provide a benefit where finer resolution near saturation is needed. This model instrument is also well suited for conditions where rapidly changing soil moisture conditions need to be observed. The "Quick-Flo" ceramic tip is colored blue for easy identification. Model LT IRROMETERS can be used for manual measurement and tracking of soil moisture status in coarse sandy soils and growing media. When equipped with optional electronic output and data logging equipment, measurement and tracking can be done automatically. The low tension vacuum gauge on this model can be replaced with electronic measurement options, or automatic switching devices which can activate peripheral equipment at desired soil water tension levels. See the "Automation and Output Options" specifications for more details. The Model LT is the best choice for container media such as peat, bark, sand, perlite and vermiculite. It can also be used in any soil when the moisture is being managed close to field capacity. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual.    

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The IRROMETER Model LT (Low Tension) tensiometer was designed to operate in coarse sandy soils and non-soil growing media. With a range of 0-40 centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa), this instrument is for use in situations where tensions above 30 cb (kPa) are rarely expected. Gauge increments of 1 cb (kPa) provide a benefit where finer resolution near saturation is needed. This model instrument is also well suited for conditions where rapidly changing soil moisture conditions need to be observed. The "Quick-Flo" ceramic tip is colored blue for easy identification. Model LT IRROMETERS can be used for manual measurement and tracking of soil moisture status in coarse sandy soils and growing media. When equipped with optional electronic output and data logging equipment, measurement and tracking can be done automatically. The low tension vacuum gauge on this model can be replaced with electronic measurement options, or automatic switching devices which can activate peripheral equipment at desired soil water tension levels. See the "Automation and Output Options" specifications for more details. The Model LT is the best choice for container media such as peat, bark, sand, perlite and vermiculite. It can also be used in any soil when the moisture is being managed close to field capacity. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual. 

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A small soil-moisture meter for smaller containers. The Mini LT Irrometer uses a slender ½-inch tube and ceramic tip, so you can monitor soil moisture tension with a smaller hole in the growing media. Its compact size makes it a useful choice when a full-size Irrometer takes up too much room. Use it in smaller pots, nursery containers, and shallow growing media where you want a continuous analog reading. Why choose the Mini LT? Small insertion hole: the tube and tip are ½ inch (13 mm) in diameter. Shallow placement: approximately 4¾ inches (12 cm) of insertion depth; overall instrument length is 6¾ inches. Low-tension gauge: reads 0–40 centibars (cbar), also shown as kilopascals (kPa), for potting mixes and other growing media managed in the wetter range. No batteries: the 1½-inch analog dial gives a continuous reading. What the reading tells you The water-filled instrument exchanges moisture through its porous ceramic tip. As the surrounding media dries, the gauge reading rises. After watering, it falls as moisture returns. The reading describes the media around the ceramic tip. Choose a container that can accommodate the tip fully within the growing media, and maintain good contact between the tip and media. Reading units: 1 centibar = 1 kilopascal = 10 millibars. The Mini LT measures soil water tension rather than volumetric water content. For help with placement and interpreting readings, see Measuring & Managing Moisture in Living Soil. Setup and maintenance Fill and prepare the Mini LT before installation. Removing trapped air helps the instrument respond properly. Check the water level and service it as needed. Recommended: Basic Service Kit Use our syringe-style Basic Service Kit for setup and maintenance. This is the same kit we recommend for regular Irrometers; you do not need a separate Mini LT service kit. One kit can service multiple instruments. Sold separately. View the Basic Service Kit → Choose the depth for your container The Mini LT is useful for smaller containers and shallow measurements. For deeper living-soil beds and large containers, see our 12-inch LT Irrometer. You can also shop other LT and SR configurations. Manufacturer specifications

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE: The IRROMETER operates on the tensiometer principle, which measures soil water tension. Soil water tension is the energy (vacuum) applied to soil by the plant as it draws in water for nutrition. This force is measured in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of tension with a high reading indicating the dry end of the scale and a low reading indicating the wet end of the scale. The IRROMETER instrument consists of a sealed, fluid filled tube that is equipped with a porous ceramic tip and a special vacuum gauge. They are installed in the ground with the tips placed at desired root zone depths. As the soil dries (increasing tension), fluid is drawn out of the instrument. This reduces the fluid volume in the IRROMETER, thus creating a partial vacuum which is registered on the gauge. The drier the soil, the higher the gauge reading. An irrigation application or rainfall event reverses this action. As water flows back into the soil (and the IRROMETER), tension is relieved in the soil and the instrument, resulting in a lower gauge reading (lower tension). In effect, the instrument is indicating how hard the roots are working. Due to the IRROMETER’s unique principle of operation, no calibrations are necessary under normal operating conditions for different soil types. A gauge reading of 50 cb (kPa) indicates that the roots are extracting the same amount of moisture whether the crop is planted in sandy soil or clay soil. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual.

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Information you can use, when you need itMeasure the soil moisture available for your plants and automatically transmit to an IrroCloud Monitor. This tensiometer measures moisture levels in centibars and gives you the same information as typical analog versions you have to see in person. You can hook up to 6 of these to every IrroCloud Monitor and see the data on your smart phone, desk computer, or laptop anywhere in the world. The user-friendly IrroCloud software lets you see the  data in many ways—graphs, averages, individual sites, rain events, and several other useful configurations, turning the data into actionable information.

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE: The IRROMETER operates on the tensiometer principle, which measures soil water tension. Soil water tension is the energy (vacuum) applied to soil by the plant as it draws in water for nutrition. This force is measured in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of tension with a high reading indicating the dry end of the scale and a low reading indicating the wet end of the scale. The IRROMETER instrument consists of a sealed, fluid filled tube that is equipped with a porous ceramic tip and a special vacuum gauge. They are installed in the ground with the tips placed at desired root zone depths. As the soil dries (increasing tension), fluid is drawn out of the instrument. This reduces the fluid volume in the IRROMETER, thus creating a partial vacuum which is registered on the gauge. The drier the soil, the higher the gauge reading. An irrigation application or rainfall event reverses this action. As water flows back into the soil (and the IRROMETER), tension is relieved in the soil and the instrument, resulting in a lower gauge reading (lower tension). In effect, the instrument is indicating how hard the roots are working. Due to the IRROMETER’s unique principle of operation, no calibrations are necessary under normal operating conditions for different soil types. A gauge reading of 50 cb (kPa) indicates that the roots are extracting the same amount of moisture whether the crop is planted in sandy soil or clay soil. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual.

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE: The IRROMETER operates on the tensiometer principle, which measures soil water tension. Soil water tension is the energy (vacuum) applied to soil by the plant as it draws in water for nutrition. This force is measured in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of tension with a high reading indicating the dry end of the scale and a low reading indicating the wet end of the scale. The IRROMETER instrument consists of a sealed, fluid filled tube that is equipped with a porous ceramic tip and a special vacuum gauge. They are installed in the ground with the tips placed at desired root zone depths. As the soil dries (increasing tension), fluid is drawn out of the instrument. This reduces the fluid volume in the IRROMETER, thus creating a partial vacuum which is registered on the gauge. The drier the soil, the higher the gauge reading. An irrigation application or rainfall event reverses this action. As water flows back into the soil (and the IRROMETER), tension is relieved in the soil and the instrument, resulting in a lower gauge reading (lower tension). In effect, the instrument is indicating how hard the roots are working. Due to the IRROMETER’s unique principle of operation, no calibrations are necessary under normal operating conditions for different soil types. A gauge reading of 50 cb (kPa) indicates that the roots are extracting the same amount of moisture whether the crop is planted in sandy soil or clay soil. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual.

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OPERATING PRINCIPLE: The IRROMETER operates on the tensiometer principle, which measures soil water tension. Soil water tension is the energy (vacuum) applied to soil by the plant as it draws in water for nutrition. This force is measured in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of tension with a high reading indicating the dry end of the scale and a low reading indicating the wet end of the scale. The IRROMETER instrument consists of a sealed, fluid filled tube that is equipped with a porous ceramic tip and a special vacuum gauge. They are installed in the ground with the tips placed at desired root zone depths. As the soil dries (increasing tension), fluid is drawn out of the instrument. This reduces the fluid volume in the IRROMETER, thus creating a partial vacuum which is registered on the gauge. The drier the soil, the higher the gauge reading. An irrigation application or rainfall event reverses this action. As water flows back into the soil (and the IRROMETER), tension is relieved in the soil and the instrument, resulting in a lower gauge reading (lower tension). In effect, the instrument is indicating how hard the roots are working. Due to the IRROMETER’s unique principle of operation, no calibrations are necessary under normal operating conditions for different soil types. A gauge reading of 50 cb (kPa) indicates that the roots are extracting the same amount of moisture whether the crop is planted in sandy soil or clay soil. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual.

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Description Fast shallow-soil information when you need itLike the 12" version, this 6" sensor measures soil moisture and  transmits it to an IrroCloud Monitor. Because this one is closer to the soil surface, it works best for plants with shallow roots and for large plants when they're still small. Hook up 1-6 of these for every IrroCloud Monitor you have or plan to get and automatically have all this critical information on your phone or computer. You can also install a combination of 6" and 12" sensors on the same system with the same simple software, accuracy, graphs, averages, and  configurations.

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Description OPERATING PRINCIPLE: The IRROMETER operates on the tensiometer principle, which measures soil water tension. Soil water tension is the energy (vacuum) applied to soil by the plant as it draws in water for nutrition. This force is measured in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa) of tension with a high reading indicating the dry end of the scale and a low reading indicating the wet end of the scale. The IRROMETER instrument consists of a sealed, fluid filled tube that is equipped with a porous ceramic tip and a special vacuum gauge. They are installed in the ground with the tips placed at desired root zone depths. As the soil dries (increasing tension), fluid is drawn out of the instrument. This reduces the fluid volume in the IRROMETER, thus creating a partial vacuum which is registered on the gauge. The drier the soil, the higher the gauge reading. An irrigation application or rainfall event reverses this action. As water flows back into the soil (and the IRROMETER), tension is relieved in the soil and the instrument, resulting in a lower gauge reading (lower tension). In effect, the instrument is indicating how hard the roots are working. Due to the IRROMETER's unique principle of operation, no calibrations are necessary under normal operating conditions for different soil types. A gauge reading of 50 cb (kPa) indicates that the roots are extracting the same amount of moisture whether the crop is planted in sandy soil or clay soil. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual.

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