Moisture Monitoring

Service Units are designed to aid users in the placement and installation, interpretation of readings, and maintenance of IRROMETER soil moisture indicators. Several helpful items are included in the kit. The primary component of a Service Unit is a small hand vacuum pump. The pump is designed to seal on the reservoir portion of the instrument body and is used to create a vacuum manually, evacuating any air contained in the tensiometer. These instruments function with the greatest accuracy when all air has been removed. One Service Unit will service multiple instruments. The Pump Service Unit is different in that it includes a pump with an integral vacuum gauge that registers in centibars (cb) or kilopascals (kPa). This is used to validate accuracy of the gauge on the IRROMETER being serviced. Click here for Irrometer's instruction manual.  

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Description Get constant, at-a-glance readings of soil moisture with the original American-made tensiometer. Irrometers have been trusted by growers for decades to show how hard plant roots are working to access water. Analog and always ready, they provide clear insight into your soil without electronics or calibration. Use one at your target depth, or stack multiple to track moisture movement through the full root zone. Available Options Irrometers come in two versions: For Potting Soil (LT, 0–40 cbar) — available in 6″, 12″, and 18″ lengths. For Native Soil (SR, 0–100 cbar) — also available in 6″, 12″, and 18″ lengths. Note: Irrometer readings are in centibar (cbar). To compare with Digital Moisture Meter readings in millibar (mbar), just move the decimal (100 mbar = 10 cbar). Service Kit Options Choose the setup that fits your needs. Service kits improve setup and speed up readings by letting you pull a vacuum inside the Irrometer. This removes trapped air, helps check for leaks, and makes the instrument respond more quickly. Both kits also include Irrometer fluid/dye (for visibility) and instructions. Basic Service Kit — syringe, fluid/dye, instructions (simple way to pull a vacuum) Pump Service Kit — hand pump, fluid/dye, instructions (faster way to pull a vacuum and check for leaks) None — Irrometer only

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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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The IRROMETER Model MLT (Miniature Low Tension) was designed for use in small containers commonly used in greenhouses and nurseries. Its compact design and short insertion depth of 4.75 inches (12 cm) allows the MLT to be installed in smaller growing vessels. 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. MLT Service Unit includes syringe style Vacuum Pump, one bottle of IRROMETER Fluid, 25 Monthly Chart Forms, and a Reference Book. 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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The syringe is used for extraction of the collected sample. Connect the plastic extraction syringe to the tubing by twisting it onto the end fitting and draw up on the syringe plunger to extract the soil solution for analysis. *Between samples, it is important to rinse the syringe with distilled water to prevent carry-over contamination from sample to sample. For Installation and Operation Instructions click here.

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A hand vacuum pump with gauge and tubing adapter is used for applying vacuum to the tube for sample collection. We recommend using the Vacuum Pump on tubes longer than 12 in. (30 cm) to apply proper vacuum. The extracted soil water samples are commonly tested with electronic meters or portable test kits. This useful in-field sampling technique is quick and easy to perform, which makes it well suited to the frequent fertigation schedules common with certain growing conditions.

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1 oz. bottle of concentrated dye for coloring water. To prepare IRROMETER Field Solution: Add a capful of this concentrate to 1 gallon of distilled water in a clean container. Fill IRROMETER with Field Solution as recommended (See Reference Book) Harmless to roots and skin

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Irrometer sensors come made for soil (outside, gardens and farms) and for planting and potting mixes (indoor, greenhouses, and outside beds). This one - best for using with potting mixes - includes two sensors and the parts needed to set it up: a hand vacuum pump, a bottle of Irrometer fluid, 25 monthly chart forms, and a reference book. After setting up the sensors, you can use the pump to remove air from them to ensure maximum sensitivity and accuracy.

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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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Irrometer sensors come made for soil (outside, gardens and farms) and for planting and potting mixes (indoor, greenhouses, and outside beds). This one - best for using with potting mixes - includes eight sensors and the parts needed to set it up: a hand vacuum pump, a bottle of Irrometer fluid, 25 monthly chart forms, and a reference book. After setting up the sensors, you can use the pump to remove air from them to ensure maximum sensitivity and accuracy.

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