ECH2O EC-5

Soil Moisture Sensor

The ECH2O EC-5 soil moisture sensor delivers research-grade accuracy at a price that makes large sensor networks economically practical.

Simple soil moisture sensor
Minimizes salinity and textural effects
Easy integration

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Overview / Features

Engineered for accuracy

The EC-5 determines volumetric water content (VWC) by measuring the dielectric constant of the media using capacitance/frequency domain technology. Its 70 MHz frequency minimizes salinity and textural effects, making this sensor accurate in almost any soil or soilless media. Factory calibrations are included for mineral soils, potting soils, rockwool, and perlite.

Easy installation

Just 5 cm long with a ~0.2 L measurement volume, this handy little sensor is easy to install in the field and can also be used in nursery pots. The EC-5’s compact design makes it easy to push directly into undisturbed soil to ensure good accuracy.

Easy integration

The EC-5’s analog signal means no-hassle integration with systems manufactured by other companies.

Cover more space

The EC-5 delivers research-grade accuracy at a price that makes large sensor networks economically practical. You can adequately characterize your site with soil moisture sensors at multiple depths and locations, even if you’re on a tight budget.

Feature summary

Measures volumetric water content
Affordable: ideal for large sensor networks
Simple sensor with excellent accuracy
Small volume of influence (eg., field spatial variability, lab column studies, or greenhouse research)
70 MHz frequency minimizes salinity and textural effects
Factory calibrations included for mineral soils, potting soils, rockwool, and perlite
Small size means easy installation
Plug and play capability
Easy integration with other systems
Use with ZL6 data logger to collect data remotely

Specifications: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Volumetric Water Content

Range

0 – 100 %

Resolution

0.001 m³/m³ VWC in mineral soils, 0.25% in growing media

Accuracy

Generic Calibration: ±0.03 m³/m³ typical in mineral soils that have solution EC <8 dS/m

Medium Specific Calibration: ±0.02 m³/m³ in any porous medium (± 2%)

Measurement Specifications

Measurement Volume

See comparison article

Communication Specifications

Output

10%–50% of excitation voltage (250–1,250 mV at 2,500 mV excitation)

Data Logger Compatibility

METER data loggers (ZL6, EM50/60 series, Em5b) or any data acquisition systems capable of switched 2.5–3.6 VDC excitation and single-ended voltage measurement at greater than or equal to 12-bit resolution.

NOTE: These calibration constants only apply to 2,500-mV excitation; use of these numbers with any other excitation voltage results in erroneous readings!

Physical Specifications

Dimensions

Length: 8.9 cm (3.50 in)

Width: 1.8 cm (0.71 in)

Height: 0.7 cm (0.28 in)

Prong Length

5.0 cm (1.97 in)

Operating Temperature Range

Minimum: -40.00 °C

Typical: NA

Maximum: 60.00 °C

NOTE: Sensors may be used at higher temperatures under certain conditions; contact Customer Support for assistance.

Cable Length

5 m (standard)
40 m (maximum custom cable length)

NOTE: Contact Customer Support if a nonstandard cable length is needed.

Connector Types

3.5-mm stereo plug connector or stripped and tinned wires

Electrical and Timing Characteristics

Supply Voltage (VIN to GND)

Minimum: 2.5 VDC at 10 mA

Typical: NA

Maximum: 3.6 VDC at 10 mA

Measurement Duration

Maximum: 10 ms

Other

Compliance

EM ISO/IEC 17050:2010 (CE Mark)
2014/30/EU
2011/65/EU
EN61326-1:2013
EN50581:2012

Prop 56 warning

GSA

View GSA details

Support / FAQ

Using Scwin (short cut) to read EC-5/10HS sensors with CSI loggers

Instructions

URL, 0.053MB

ECH2O CSI - Scwin (shortcut)

Software

EXE, 1MB

**Soil moisture sensor calibration guide

Instructions

PDF, 0.6MB

Sensor wire splicing guide (quick method)

Instructions

PDF, 0.9MB

Sensor wire splicing guide (complete method)

Instructions

PDF, 5MB

Correcting temperature sensitivity of ECH2O soil moisture sensors

Installer

PDF, 690 KB

METER Splice Kit Repair Instruction Video

Instructions

URL, 0.0 kb

VIDEO: ZL6 + ZENTRA Cloud Troubleshooting

Instructions

URL

ECH20 EC-5 FAQs

What is the difference between the FDR method and the capacitance method of VMC measurement? Are they the same?: They are technically not the same. For the strictest technical accuracy, FDR makes a frequency scan and capacitance measures the charge time of a capacitor. From a practical standpoint there is little difference in the performance.

How can I perform a soil sensor calibration?: The soil sensor calibration written instructions are here. Watch the video for soil-specific calibration here.

How can I splice a broken wire?: You can use the quick method (instructions here) or the complete method (instructions here).

Updating METER digital sensors

One of the advantages of digital sensors is the ability to update their programming (firmware) without sending the sensors back to METER or even excavating them from the field. While it is seldom necessary to update sensors, we do recommend updates on occasion to improve probe performance or resolve problems. Please contact your METER representative before updating any of your sensors.

Updating sensors using ProCheck

If the need does arise to update the program on your sensors, you will need:

A computer that can run Windows or a Windows emulator.
A ProCheck handheld reader.
The relevant updater provided by your METER representative.

Please follow these steps to update the sensor:

Install the updater file onto your computer. It can typically be acquired through a web link provided by your METER representative.
Connect your METER digital sensor to your ProCheck through the stereo connector or pigtail to stereo adapter if you have sensors with bare leads.
Connect the ProCheck to your computer using the serial to USB adapter included in the ProCheck kit. If you do not have any METER software installed on your computer, you will need to install the USB driver. Please close any open METER software.
Run the updater from your computer.

The update should take 3 – 5 minutes. You can see the current version of firmware that your sensor is running in the lower left corner of your ProCheck screen when it is reading the sensor. Please contact us if you require a firmware update but do not own a ProCheck. We may be able to arrange a loaner. Do not hesitate to contact [email protected] or call 509-332-5600 if you have any questions.

Why don't your soil moisture sensors measure with 1% accuracy like some others spec'd?

There are two elements to the accuracy of time-domain reflectometry (TDR), frequency domain reflectometry (FDR), and capacitance sensors:

How well the sensors measure the dielectric permittivity of the soil; and
How well the calibration converts that measurement to water content.

Due to inherent variability in soil physical properties, it is impossible for a dielectric sensor to measure within 1% water content accuracy across a broad range of soil types, even with a perfect measurement of dielectric permittivity. Beware sensors that claim an unbelievable accuracy in all substrates.

Resources / Publications

Calibration

Resources

Education links

Support links

Case studies

Selected Publications

Listed below are a few examples of cited publications for the EC-5 water content sensor. This list is not exhaustive.

2020

Abdelkhalik, Abdelsattar, B. Pascual, I. Nájera, M. A. Domene, C. Baixauli, and N. Pascual-Seva. “Effects of deficit irrigation on the yield and irrigation water use efficiency of drip-irrigated sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under Mediterranean conditions.” Irrigation Science 38, no. 1 (2020): 89-104. (Article link).
Auler, Priscila Ariane, Marcelo Nogueira do Amaral, Tatiana Rossatto, Rosane Lopez Crizel, Cristini Milech, Fabio Clasen Chaves, Gustavo Maia Souza, and Eugenia Jacira Bolacel Braga. “Metabolism of abscisic acid in two contrasting rice genotypes submitted to recurrent water deficit.” Physiologia Plantarum, 2020. (Article link).
Baek, SangSoo, Mayzonee Ligaray, Yakov Pachepsky, Jong Ahn Chun, Kwang-Sik Yoon, Yongeun Park, and Kyung Hwa Cho. “Assessment of a green roof practice using the coupled SWMM and HYDRUS models.” Journal of Environmental Management 261 (2020): 109920. (Article link).
Eriksen, Renée L., Neil D. Adhikari, and Beiquan Mou. “Comparative Photosynthesis Physiology of Cultivated and Wild Lettuce Under Control and Low‐Water Stress.” Crop Science (2020). (Article link).
Ferrari, Renata C., Priscila P. Bittencourt, Maria A. Rodrigues, Jose J. Moreno‐Villena, Frederico RR Alves, Vinícius D. Gastaldi, Susanna F. Boxall et al. “C4 and crassulacean acid metabolism within a single leaf: deciphering key components behind a rare photosynthetic adaptation.” New Phytologist 225, no. 4 (2020): 1699-1714. (Article link).
Fontanet, Mireia, Elia Scudiero, Todd H. Skaggs, Daniel Fernàndez-Garcia, Francesc Ferrer, Gema Rodrigo, and Joaquim Bellvert. “Dynamic Management Zones for Irrigation Scheduling.” Agricultural Water Management 238 (2020): 106207. (Article link).
Hamada, Kosuke, Hisayoshi Inoue, Hidetoshi Mochizuki, Mayuko Asakura, Yuta Shimizu, and Takeshi Takemura. “Evaluating Maize Drought and Wet Stress in a Converted Japanese Paddy Field Using a SWAP Model.” Water 12, no. 5 (2020): 1363. (Article link).
Knappe, Jan, Celia Somlai, Andrew C. Fowler, and Laurence W. Gill. “The influence of pre-treatment on biomat development in soil treatment units.” Journal of Contaminant Hydrology (2020): 103654. (Article link).
Kukal, Meetpal S., Suat Irmak, and Kiran Sharma. “Development and Application of a Performance and Operational Feasibility Guide to Facilitate Adoption of Soil Moisture Sensors.” Sustainability 12, no. 1 (2020): 321. (Article link).
Lo, Tsz Him, Daran R. Rudnick, Jasreman Singh, Hope Njuki Nakabuye, Abia Katimbo, Derek M. Heeren, and Yufeng Ge. “Field assessment of interreplicate variability from eight electromagnetic soil moisture sensors.” Agricultural Water Management 231 (2020): 105984. (Article link).
Park, Hyung Bum, Sang Yong Park, In Sook Park, In Bae Jang, Dong Yun Hyun, Chiwon W. Lee, and Jong Myung Choi. “Influence of nutrient solution concentration on growth and tissue mineral content of Panax ginseng seedlings cultured in a root medium containing peat and perlite.” Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology (2020): 1-10. (Article link).
Park, Song-Yi, Jongyun Kim, and Myung-Min Oh. “Determination of Adequate Substrate Water Content for Mass Production of a High Value-Added Medicinal Plant, Crepidiastrum denticulatum (Houtt.) Pak & Kawano.” Agronomy 10, no. 3 (2020): 388. (Article link).
Ravi, Sridevi, Tim Young, Cate Macinnis-Ng, Thao V. Nyugen, Mark Duxbury, Andrea C. Alfaro, and Sebastian Leuzinger. “Untargeted metabolomics in halophytes: The role of different metabolites in New Zealand mangroves under multi-factorial abiotic stress conditions.” Environmental and Experimental Botany 173 (2020): 103993. (Article link).
Rukhaiyar, Saurav, Shan Huang, Haihong Song, Peng Lin, Ankit Garg, and Sanandam Bordoloi. “A New Intelligent Model for Computing Crack in Compacted Soil-Biochar Mix: Application in Green Infrastructure.” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 38, no. 1 (2020): 201-214. (Article link).
Tian, Zhengchao, Tusheng Ren, Robert Horton, and Joshua L. Heitman. “Estimating soil bulk density with combined commercial soil water content and thermal property sensors.” Soil and Tillage Research 196 (2020): 104445. (Article link).
Wang, Di, Guangyao Gao, Junran Li, Chuan Yuan, Yihe Lü, and Bojie Fu. “Sap flow dynamics of xerophytic shrubs differ significantly among rainfall categories in the Loess Plateau of China.” Journal of Hydrology (2020): 124815. (Article link).
Wicki, Adrian, Peter Lehmann, Christian Hauck, Sonia I. Seneviratne, Peter Waldner, and Manfred Stähli. “Assessing the potential of soil moisture measurements for regional landslide early warning.” Landslides (2020): 1-16. (Article link).
Zhong, Yu, Chris B. Zou, Adrian Saenz, Elaine Stebler, Gopal Kakani, and Rodney E. Will. “Conversion of encroached juniper woodland back to native prairie and to switchgrass increases root zone soil moisture and watershed runoff.” Journal of Hydrology 584 (2020): 124640. (Article link).

2019

Carter, David R., Robert A. Slesak, Timothy B. Harrington, and Anthony W. D’Amato. “Comparative effects of soil resource availability on physiology and growth of Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings.” Forest Ecology and Management 453 (2019): 117580. (Article link).
Hargis, Hailey, Sybil G. Gotsch, Philipp Porada, Georgianne W. Moore, Briana Ferguson, and John T. Van Stan. “Arboreal Epiphytes in the Soil-Atmosphere Interface: How Often Are the Biggest “Buckets” in the Canopy Empty?.” Geosciences 9, no. 8 (2019): 342. (Article link).
Jonas, Jayne L., Erin Berryman, Brett Wolk, Penelope Morgan, and Peter R. Robichaud. “Post-fire wood mulch for reducing erosion potential increases tree seedlings with few impacts on understory plants and soil nitrogen.” Forest Ecology and Management 453 (2019): 117567. (Article link).
Iwasaki, Naoto, Kyouka Hori, and Yuri Ikuta. “Xylem plays an important role in regulating the leaf water potential and fruit quality of Meiwa kumquat (Fortunella crassifolia Swingle) trees under drought conditions.” Agricultural Water Management 214 (2019): 47-54. (Article link).
Kang, Seonghwan, Marc W. van Iersel, and Jongyun Kim. “Plant root growth affects FDR soil moisture sensor calibration.” Scientia Horticulturae 252 (2019): 208-211. (Article link).
Kelly, Gilor, Aiman Egbaria, Belal Khamaisi, Nitsan Lugassi, Ziv Attia, Menachem Moshelion, and David Granot. “Guard-Cell Hexokinase Increases Water-Use Efficiency Under Normal and Drought Conditions.” Frontiers in Plant Science 10 (2019): 1499. (Article link).
Li, Sheng-Lun, and Wei-Li Liang. “Spatial–Temporal Soil Water Dynamics beneath a Tree Monitored by Tensiometer-Time Domain Reflectometry Probes.” Water 11, no. 8 (2019): 1662. (Article link).
Matsuo, Naoki, Shinori Tsuchiya, Keiko Nakano, and Koichiro Fukami. “Design and evaluation of a one-operation shallow up-cut tillage sowing method for soybean production.” Plant Production Science 22, no. 4 (2019): 465-478. (Article link).
Ren, Junping, and Sai K. Vanapalli. “Comparison of Soil-Freezing and Soil-Water Characteristic Curves of Two Canadian Soils.” Vadose Zone Journal 18, no. 1 (2019). (Article link).
Roby, Matthew C., Russell L. Scott, Greg A. Barron-Gafford, Erik P. Hamerlynck, and David JP Moore. “Environmental and vegetative controls on soil CO2 efflux in three semiarid ecosystems.” Soil Systems 3, no. 1 (2019): 6. (Article link).
Weyers, Sharon, Matt Thom, Frank Forcella, Carrie Eberle, Heather Matthees, Russ Gesch, Matthew Ott, Gary Feyereisen, Jeffery Strock, and Don Wyse. “Reduced potential for nitrogen loss in cover crop–soybean relay systems in a cold climate.” Journal of Environmental Quality 48, no. 3 (2019): 660-669. (Article link).

2018

Fontanet Ambrós, Mireia, Daniel Fernández García, and Francesc Ferrer. “The value of satellite remote sensing soil moisture data and the DISPATCH algorithm in irrigation fields.” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 22, no. 11 (2018): 5889-5900. (Article link).
Lacoste, Marine, Siul Ruiz, and Dani Or. “Listening to earthworms burrowing and roots growing-acoustic signatures of soil biological activity.” Scientific Reports 8, no. 1 (2018): 1-9. (Article link).
Roberts, B., D. Schnipke, and M. Van Iersel. “An automated system for irrigation control in containerized ornamental crop production.” Irrigation and Drainage Systems Engineering 7, no. 3 (2018). (Article link).
Rosas-Anderson, Pablo, Matthew J. Taggart, Joshua L. Heitman, Grady L. Miller, Thomas R. Sinclair, and Thomas W. Rufty. “Partitioning between evaporation and transpiration from Agrostis stolonifera L. during light and dark periods.” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 260 (2018): 73-79. (Article link).
Shi, Wei, Xin‐ping Wang, Ya‐feng Zhang, Yan‐xia Pan, Rui Hu, and Yan‐xia Jin. “The effect of biological soil crusts on soil moisture dynamics under different rainfall conditions in the Tengger Desert, China.” Hydrological Processes 32, no. 10 (2018): 1363-1374. (Article link).
Singh, J., T. Lo, D. R. Rudnick, T. J. Dorr, C. A. Burr, R. Werle, T. M. Shaver, and F. Muñoz-Arriola. “Performance assessment of factory and field calibrations for electromagnetic sensors in a loam soil.” Agricultural Water Management 196 (2018): 87-98. (Article link).
Soderquist, B. S., K. L. Kavanagh, T. E. Link, M. S. Seyfried, and A. H. Winstral. “Simulating the dependence of aspen (Populus tremuloides) on redistributed snow in a semi‐arid watershed.” Ecosphere 9, no. 1 (2018): e02068. (Article link).

2017

Acharya, Bharat Sharma, Elaine Stebler, and Chris B. Zou. “Monitoring litter interception of rainfall using leaf wetness sensor under controlled and field conditions.” Hydrological Processes 31, no. 1 (2017): 240-249. (Article link).
Auler, Priscila Ariane, Marcelo Nogueira Do Amaral, Gabriela dos Santos Rodrigues, Letícia Carvalho Benitez, Luciano Carlos da Maia, Gustavo Maia Souza, and Eugenia Jacira Bolacel Braga. “Molecular responses to recurrent drought in two contrasting rice genotypes.” Planta 246, no. 5 (2017): 899-914. (Article link).
Gotsch, Sybil G., Kenneth Davidson, Jessica G. Murray, Vanessa J. Duarte, and Danel Draguljić. “Vapor pressure deficit predicts epiphyte abundance across an elevational gradient in a tropical montane region.” American Journal of Botany 104, no. 12 (2017): 1790-1801. (Article link).
Iwata, Y., T. Miyamoto, K. Kameyama, and M. Nishiya. “Effect of sensor installation on the accurate measurement of soil water content.” European Journal of Soil Science 68, no. 6 (2017): 817-828. (Article link).
Hochberg, Uri, Jose Carlos Herrera, Asfaw Degu, Simone Diego Castellarin, Enrico Peterlunger, Giorgio Alberti, and Naftali Lazarovitch. “Evaporative demand determines the relative transpirational sensitivity of deficit-irrigated grapevines.” Irrigation Science 35, no. 1 (2017): 1-9. (Article link).
Rhie, Yong Ha, and Jongyun Kim. “Changes in physical properties of various coir dust and perlite mixes and their capacitance sensor volumetric water content calibrations.” HortScience 52, no. 1 (2017): 162-166. (Article link).
Ritchie, Alison L., Todd E. Erickson, and David J. Merritt. “Monitoring of plant phenology and seed production identifies two distinct seed collection seasons in the Australian arid zone.” The Rangeland Journal 39, no. 1 (2017): 73-83. (Article link).
Somlai-Haase, Celia, Jan Knappe, and Laurence Gill. “Carbon dioxide emissions from a septic tank soakaway in a northern maritime climate.” Science of the Total Environment 586 (2017): 485-491. (Article link).
Tucker, Colin L., Theresa A. McHugh, Armin Howell, Richard Gill, Bettina Weber, Jayne Belnap, Edmund Grote, and Sasha C. Reed. “The concurrent use of novel soil surface microclimate measurements to evaluate CO 2 pulses in biocrusted interspaces in a cool desert ecosystem.” Biogeochemistry 135, no. 3 (2017): 239-249. (Article link).
Yan, Guoyong, Yajuan Xing, Lijian Xu, Jianyu Wang, Xiongde Dong, Wenjun Shan, Liang Guo, and Qinggui Wang. “Effects of different nitrogen additions on soil microbial communities in different seasons in a boreal forest.” Ecosphere 8, no. 7 (2017): e01879. (Article link).
Zheng, Shuang, Sérgio DN Lourenço, Peter J. Cleall, Ting Fong May Chui, Angel KY Ng, and Stuart W. Millis. “Hydrologic behavior of model slopes with synthetic water repellent soils.” Journal of Hydrology 554 (2017): 582-599. (Article link).

2016

Chamizo, Sonia, Yolanda Cantón, Emilio Rodríguez‐Caballero, and Francisco Domingo. “Biocrusts positively affect the soil water balance in semiarid ecosystems.” Ecohydrology 9, no. 7 (2016): 1208-1221. (Article link).
Clinton C. Shock, André B. Pereira, Erik B. G. Feibert, and Cedric A. Shock. “Field Comparison of Soil Moisture Sensing Using Neutron Thermalization, Frequency Domain, Tensiometer, and Granular Matrix Sensor Devices: Relevance to Precision Irrigation.” Journal of Water Resource and Protection 8 (2016): 154-167. (Article link).
Fares, Ali, Ripendra Awal, and Haimanote K. Bayabil. “Soil water content sensor response to organic matter content under laboratory conditions.” Sensors 16, no. 8 (2016): 1239. (Article link).
Galieni, A. N. G. E. L. I. C. A., F. A. B. I. O. Stagnari, S. T. E. F. A. N. O. Speca, and M. I. C. H. E. L. E. Pisante. “Leaf traits as indicators of limiting growing conditions for lettuce (Lactuca sativa).” Annals of Applied Biology 169, no. 3 (2016): 342-356. (Article link).
Just, Michael G., Matthew G. Hohmann, and William A. Hoffmann. “Where fire stops: vegetation structure and microclimate influence fire spread along an ecotonal gradient.” Plant Ecology 217, no. 6 (2016): 631-644. (Article link).
Magney, Troy S., Jan UH Eitel, David R. Huggins, and Lee A. Vierling. “Proximal NDVI derived phenology improves in-season predictions of wheat quantity and quality.” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 217 (2016): 46-60. (Article link).
Pla, Concepción, Soledad Cuezva, Elena Garcia-Anton, A. Fernandez-Cortes, Juan C. Cañaveras, Sergio Sanchez-Moral, and David Benavente. “Changes in the CO2 dynamics in near-surface cavities under a future warming scenario: Factors and evidence from the field and experimental findings.” Science of The Total Environment 565 (2016): 1151-1164. (Article link).
Potter, Christopher. “Measurements of fog water interception by shrubs on the California central coast.” Journal of Coastal Conservation 20, no. 4 (2016): 315-325. (Article link).
Prats, Sérgio Alegre, Maruxa Cortizo Malvar, Diana Catarina Simões Vieira, Lee MacDonald, and Jan Jacob Keizer. “Effectiveness of hydromulching to reduce runoff and erosion in a recently burnt pine plantation in central Portugal.” Land degradation & development 27, no. 5 (2016): 1319-1333. (Article link).
Singh, Harsh Vardhan, and Anita M. Thompson. “Effect of antecedent soil moisture content on soil critical shear stress in agricultural watersheds.” Geoderma 262 (2016): 165-173. (Article link).

2015

Arabi, Mahsa Ghazian, Ali Farhadzadeh, and Mohammad Khosravi. “Erosion and Recession of Beach-Bluff System of Low Fine Content Due to Wave and Surge Actions.” Coastal Engineering 2015 (1994). (Article link).
Chen, Shutao, Xu Zhang, Yifan Liu, Zhenghua Hu, Xiaoshuai Shen, and Jingquan Ren. “Simulated acid rain changed the proportion of heterotrophic respiration in soil respiration in a subtropical secondary forest.” Applied Soil Ecology 86 (2015): 148-157. (Article link).
Galieni, Angelica, Carla Di Mattia, Miriam De Gregorio, Stefano Speca, Dino Mastrocola, Michele Pisante, and Fabio Stagnari. “Effects of nutrient deficiency and abiotic environmental stresses on yield, phenolic compounds and antiradical activity in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).” Scientia Horticulturae 187 (2015): 93-101. (Article link).
Maurer, Gregory E., and David R. Bowling. “Dust effects on snowpack melt and related ecosystem processes are secondary to those of forest canopy structure and interannual snowpack variability.” Ecohydrology 8, no. 6 (2015): 1005-1023. (Article link).
Pascual-Seva, Nuria, A. San Bautista, S. López-Galarza, J. V. Maroto, and B. Pascual. “Response of nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L. var sativus Boeck.) tuber production to drip irrigation based on volumetric soil water content.” Irrigation Science 33, no. 1 (2015): 31-42. (Article link).
Trautz, Andrew C., Kathleen M. Smits, and Abdullah Cihan. “Continuum‐scale investigation of evaporation from bare soil under different boundary and initial conditions: An evaluation of nonequilibrium phase change.” Water Resources Research 51, no. 9 (2015): 7630-7648. (Article link).

2014

Doucette, William J., Scout Mendenhall, Laurie S. McNeill, and Justin Heavilin. “The sky is falling II: Impact of deposition produced during the static testing of solid rocket motors on corn and alfalfa.” Science of the Total Environment 482 (2014): 36-41. (Article link).
Ehret, David L., Brenda Frey, Tom Forge, Tom Helmer, David R. Bryla, and Bernie J. Zebarth. “Effects of nitrogen rate and application method on early production and fruit quality in highbush blueberry.” Canadian Journal of Plant Science 94, no. 7 (2014): 1165-1179. (Article link).
Furlong, C., M. R. Templeton, and W. T. Gibson. “Processing of human faeces by wet vermifiltration for improved on-site sanitation.” Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 4, no. 2 (2014): 231-239. (Article link).
Rubio, Carles M. “Transient thermal flux as a way to stimulate the loss dormancy on weed seeds.” Science and Education 2, no. 2 (2014): 43-47. (Article link).
Stagnari, Fabio, Angelica Galieni, Stefano Speca, Giovanni Cafiero, and Michele Pisante. “Effect of light and water supply on morphological and physiological leaf traits of red beet.” Agronomy Journal 106, no. 2 (2014): 459-468. (Article link).
Zhen, Shuyang, Stephanie E. Burnett, Michael E. Day, and Marc W. van Iersel. “Effects of substrate water content on morphology and physiology of rosemary, canadian columbine, and cheddar pink.” HortScience 49, no. 4 (2014): 486-492. (Article link).

2013

Bair, Kyle E., and Joan R. Davenport. “Plant available phosphorus analysis for recently acidified soils of the Columbia Basin Washington State.” Soil Science Society of America Journal 77, no. 3 (2013): 1063-1069. (Article link).
Bayer, Amanda, Imran Mahbub, Matthew Chappell, John Ruter, and Marc W. van Iersel. “Water use and growth of Hibiscus acetosella ‘Panama Red’grown with a soil moisture sensor-controlled irrigation system.” HortScience 48, no. 8 (2013): 980-987. (Article link).
Cama, Alejandro, Francisco G. Montoya, Julio Gómez, José Luis De La Cruz, and Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro. “Integration of communication technologies in sensor networks to monitor the Amazon environment.” Journal of Cleaner Production 59 (2013): 32-42. (Article link).
Chappell, Matthew, Sue K. Dove, Marc W. van Iersel, Paul A. Thomas, and John Ruter. “Implementation of wireless sensor networks for irrigation control in three container nurseries.” HortTechnology 23, no. 6 (2013): 747-753. (Article link).
Laplace, Sophie, Tomonori Kume, Chu Chia-Ren, and Hikaru Komatsu. “Wind speed response of sap flow in five subtropical trees based on wind tunnel experiments.” British Journal of Environment and Climate Change 3, no. 2 (2013): 160. (Article link).
Marquina, Sorena, Loreto Donoso, Tibisay Pérez, Jenie Gil, and Eugenio Sanhueza. “Losses of NO and N2O emissions from Venezuelan and other worldwide tropical N‐fertilized soils.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 118, no. 3 (2013): 1094-1104. (Article link).
Su, Zhongbo, P. De Rosnay, J. Wen, Lichun Wang, and Yijian Zeng. “Evaluation of ECMWF’s soil moisture analyses using observations on the Tibetan Plateau.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 118, no. 11 (2013): 5304-5318. (Article link).
Van der Velde, R., M. S. Salama, T. Pellarin, M. Ofwono, Y. Ma, and Z. Su. “Long term soil moisture mapping over the Tibetan Plateau using Special Sensor Microwave/Imager.” Hydrology & Earth System Sciences Discussions 10, no. 5 (2013). (Article link).
van Iersel, Marc W., Matthew Chappell, and John D. Lea-Cox. “Sensors for improved efficiency of irrigation in greenhouse and nursery production.” HortTechnology 23, no. 6 (2013): 735-746. (Article link).
Wersal, Ryan M., J. D. Madsen, and P. D. Gerard. “Survival of parrotfeather following simulated drawdown events.” J. Aquat. Plant Manage 51 (2013): 22-26. (Article link).
Zegada‐Lizarazu, Walter, and Andrea Monti. “Photosynthetic response of sweet sorghum to drought and re‐watering at different growth stages.” Physiologia plantarum 149, no. 1 (2013): 56-66. (Article link).

2012

Chen, Shutao, Yong Zhang, Haishan Chen, and Zhenghua Hu. “Effects of elevated O3 on soil respiration in a winter wheat–soybean rotation cropland.” Soil Research 50, no. 6 (2012): 500-506. (Article link).
Farmaha, Bhupinder S., Fabián G. Fernández, and Emerson D. Nafziger. “Distribution of soybean roots, soil water, phosphorus and potassium concentrations with broadcast and subsurface-band fertilization.” Soil Science Society of America Journal 76, no. 3 (2012): 1079-1089. (Article link).
García, Ana R., Roberto Maisonnave, Marcelo J. Massobrio, Fabrizio de Iorio, and R. Alicia. “Field-scale evaluation of water fluxes and manure solution leaching in feedlot pen soils.” Journal of Environmental Quality 41, no. 5 (2012): 1591-1599. (Article link).
McLaughlin, Daniel L., Mark T. Brown, and Matthew J. Cohen. “The ecohydrology of a pioneer wetland species and a drastically altered landscape.” Ecohydrology 5, no. 5 (2012): 656-667. (Article link).
Perez-Quezada, J. F., H. E. Bown, J. P. Fuentes, F. A. Alfaro, and N. Franck. “Effects of afforestation on soil respiration in an arid shrubland in Chile.” Journal of Arid Environments 83 (2012): 45-53. (Article link).
Rothrock, Michael J., Jonathan M. Frantz, and Stephanie Burnett. “Effect of volumetric water content and clover (Trifolium incarnatum) on the survival of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in a soil matrix.” Current Microbiology 65, no. 3 (2012): 272-283. (Article link).
Sui, Ruixiu, Daniel K. Fisher, and Edward M. Barnes. “Soil moisture and plant canopy temperature sensing for irrigation application in cotton.” Journal of Agricultural Science 4, no. 12 (2012): 93. (Article link).
Villordon, Arthur, Don LaBonte, Julio Solis, and Nurit Firon. “Characterization of lateral root development at the onset of storage root initiation in ‘Beauregard’sweetpotato adventitious roots.” HortScience 47, no. 7 (2012): 961-968. (Article link).
Wertin, Timothy M., Mary Anne McGuire, and Robert O. Teskey. “Effects of predicted future and current atmospheric temperature and [CO2] and high and low soil moisture on gas exchange and growth of Pinus taeda seedlings at cool and warm sites in the species range.” Tree Physiology 32, no. 7 (2012): 847-858. (Article link).
Zegada-Lizarazu, Walter, Alessandro Zatta, and Andrea Monti. “Water uptake efficiency and above-and belowground biomass development of sweet sorghum and maize under different water regimes.” Plant and Soil 351, no. 1-2 (2012): 47-60. (Article link).

2011

Fach, Stefan, Carolina Engelhard, Nina Wittke, and Wolfgang Rauch. “Performance of infiltration swales with regard to operation in winter times in an Alpine region.” Water Science and Technology 63, no. 11 (2011): 2658-2665. (Article link).
Franck, Nicolás, Joaquín P. Morales, David Arancibia‐Avendaño, Víctor García de Cortázar, Jorge F. Perez‐Quezada, Andrés Zurita‐Silva, and Claudio Pastenes. “Seasonal fluctuations in Vitis vinifera root respiration in the field.” New Phytologist 192, no. 4 (2011): 939-951. (Article link).
Goel, Gaurav, and Denis M. O’Carroll. “Experimental investigation of nonequilibrium capillarity effects: Fluid viscosity effects.” Water Resources Research 47, no. 9 (2011). (Article link).
Kodešová, R., V. Kodeš, and Arnost Mraz. “Comparison of two sensors ECh4O EC-5 and SM200 for measuring soil water content.” Soil and Water Research 6, no. 2 (2011): 102-110. (Article link).
Li, Guoyong, and Shucun Sun. “Plant clipping may cause overestimation of soil respiration in a Tibetan alpine meadow, southwest China.” Ecological Research 26, no. 3 (2011): 497-504. (Article link).
Liu, Zhi-gang, Ping-pin Li, Yong-guang Hu, and Xi-liang Zhang. “Temperature calibration of capacitance probes to measure soilless substrate water.” In 2011 International Conference on New Technology of Agricultural, pp. 263-265. IEEE, 2011. (Article link).
Odindi, J. O., and V. Kakembo. “The hydrological response of Pteronia incana‐invaded areas in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.” Ecohydrology 4, no. 6 (2011): 832-840. (Article link).
Rosenbaum, U., J. A. Huisman, J. Vrba, H. Vereecken, and H. R. Bogena. “Correction of temperature and electrical conductivity effects on dielectric permittivity measurements with ECH 2 O sensors.” Vadose Zone Journal 10, no. 2 (2011): 582-593. (Article link).
Sekiya, Nobuhito, Hideki Araki, and Katsuya Yano. “Applying hydraulic lift in an agroecosystem: forage plants with shoots removed supply water to neighboring vegetable crops.” Plant and Soil 341, no. 1-2 (2011): 39-50. (Article link).
Zhang, Rong-biao, Jing-jing Guo, Lei Zhang, Ye-cheng Zhang, Li-hong Wang, and Qi Wang. “A calibration method of detecting soil water content based on the information-sharing in wireless sensor network.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 76, no. 2 (2011): 161-168. (Article link).

2010

Bogena, H. R., M. Herbst, J. A. Huisman, U. Rosenbaum, A. Weuthen, and H. Vereecken. “Potential of wireless sensor networks for measuring soil water content variability.” Vadose Zone Journal 9, no. 4 (2010): 1002-1013. (Article link).
Kanalas, P., A. Fenyvesi, J. Kis, Erzsébet Szőllősi, V. Olah, I. Ander, and Ilona Mészáros. “Seasonal and diurnal variability in sap flow intensity of mature sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) trees in relation to microclimatic conditions.” Acta Biologica Hungarica 61, no. Supplement-1 (2010): 95-108. (Article link).
LEI, HUI‐MIN, and DA‐WEN YANG. “Seasonal and interannual variations in carbon dioxide exchange over a cropland in the North China Plain.” Global Change Biology 16, no. 11 (2010): 2944-2957. (Article link).
Miller, Gretchen R., Xingyuan Chen, Yoram Rubin, Siyan Ma, and Dennis D. Baldocchi. “Groundwater uptake by woody vegetation in a semiarid oak savanna.” Water Resources Research 46, no. 10 (2010). (Article link).
Seki, K., K. Suzuki, T. Nishimura, M. Mizoguchi, H. Imoto, and T. Miyazaki. “Physical and chemical properties of soils in the fire-affected forest of East Kalimantan, Indonesia.” Journal of Tropical Forest Science (2010): 414-424. (Article link).

2009

Espino, Susana, and H. Jochen Schenk. “Hydraulically integrated or modular? Comparing whole‐plant‐level hydraulic systems between two desert shrub species with different growth forms.” New Phytologist 183, no. 1 (2009): 142-152. (Article link).

Accessories: Cable repair and replacement accessories

TEROS 10, TEROS 11, TEROS 12, TEROS 22, TEROS 21, TEROS 31, TEROS 32, TEROS 06, TEROS 54, PHYTOS 31

ZSC Bluetooth sensor interface and stereo to pigtail adapter

TEROS 10, TEROS 11, TEROS 12, TEROS 22, TEROS 54, TEROS 31, TEROS 32, PHYTOS 31, ATMOS 14, ATMOS 22

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Water Content Features

wdt_ID	wdt_created_by	wdt_created_at	wdt_last_edited_by	wdt_last_edited_at	Features	TEROS 10	TEROS 11	TEROS 12	TEROS 54	ECH2O EC-5	ECH2O 10HS
1	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:15 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:15 PM	Measures volumetric water content	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
2	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Measures temperature		✓	✓	✓
3	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 04:43 PM	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 04:43 PM	Measures EC			✓
4					Depths measured simultaneously	1	1	1	4	1	1
5	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Individually normalized		✓	✓	✓
6	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Can install manually	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓
7	ariel.dearth	21/05/2024 02:06 PM	ariel.dearth	21/05/2024 02:06 PM	Install tool available	TBIT	TBIT	TBIT	TEROS 54 Install Tool	N/A	N/A
8					Install via borehole or trench	Either	Either	EIther	Borehole	Either	Either
9	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Quickest install/removal				✓
10	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Maintenance-free	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
11	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Compatible with verification clip	✓	✓	✓
12	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 02:10 PM	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 04:02 PM	VMC accuracy generic calibration***	±0.03 m³/m³	±0.03 m³/m³*	±0.03 m³/m³*	±0.05 m³/m³*	±0.03 m³/m³*	0.00 - 0.57 m³/m³*
13	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 02:10 PM	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 04:02 PM	VWC accuracy medium specific calibration***	±0.01–0.02 m³/m³**	±0.01–0.02 m³/m³**	±0.01–0.02 m³/m³**	±0.02–0.03 m³/m³**	±0.02 m³/m³**	N/A
14					Analog vs digital	Analog	Digital	Digital	Digital	Analog	Analog
15	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Uses capacitance technology	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
16					Maximum measurement volume	430 mL	1010 mL	1010 mL	300 cm³ per segment	240 mL	1320 mL
17	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	eric.lozaga	12/12/2024 01:16 PM	Connects to ZENTRA	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
18	ariel.dearth	21/05/2024 02:04 PM	ariel.dearth	21/05/2024 02:04 PM	LEARN MORE	TEROS 10	TEROS 11	TEROS 12	TEROS 54	ECH20 EC-5	ECH20 10HS
19	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 02:45 PM	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 04:02 PM	* Generic calibration - typical in mineral soils that have solution EC
20	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 02:53 PM	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 04:02 PM	** Medium specific calibration - in any porous medium
21	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 02:12 PM	eric.lozaga	02/04/2025 04:03 PM	*** Volumetric water content

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ECH2O EC-5

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ECH2O EC-5

Soil Moisture Sensor

Overview / Features

Engineered for accuracy

Easy installation

Easy integration

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Feature summary

Specifications

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Volumetric Water Content

Measurement Specifications

Communication Specifications

Physical Specifications

Electrical and Timing Characteristics

Other

Support / FAQ

ECH20 EC-5 FAQs

Updating sensors using ProCheck

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Resources / Publications

Calibration

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Selected Publications

2020

2019

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2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Accessories

Cable repair and replacement accessories

ZSC Bluetooth sensor interface and stereo to pigtail adapter

Water Content Features

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