Soil Moisture Sensor and Arduino

SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
MSE-I
PARVESH TANEJA
Submitted by:

SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
Fig 1: Soil Moisture Sensor (Ref)

INTRODUCTION
Soil Moisture Sensor as the name suggest ,can detect amount of moisture in
soil (roots of a plant).
 It is Low-Tech sensor.
This sensor is compatible with Arduino UNO,Arduino mega2560, Arduino ADK
etc.

WORKING PRINCIPLE
• Strictly Speaking moisture sensor does not measures moisture but measures
conductivity or resistivity of soil.
• Moisture Sensor has two probes to pass current through the soil. It then reads
resistance(conductance) in the soil.
• Less moisture (water) in soil results in higher resistance i.e. dry soil.
• More moisture (water) in soil results in lesser resistance and sensor thus
relates moisture content.

FEATURES
This sensor has low power consumption, and high sensitivity. (Sensitivity should not be
confused with accuracy)
Operates on low Voltage of 5v.
Operates on low current <20mA.
Weighs only 3 gram.

DISADVANTAGES
Depth of detection is only 37mm.
Working temperature is only 10˚-30˚ Celsius.
Less accuracy.

PIN DEFINITIONS
Fig 2.1: Soil Moisture Sensor Pins (Ref)
 Pin with “S” written on it means signal.
 Pin with “-” written on it means GND (ground) .
 Pin with “+” written on it means 5v supply.

YL69(PROBES) CONNECTED TO YL38 (INTERFACE)
This is what I will be using while
Showing Demo.
Fig 2.2: Soil Moisture Sensor unit (Ref)
Yl38 (Interface) and Yl69 (Probes)
Cost = 130 INR

YL-69 MOISTURE SENSOR (PROBES)
• This is an Electrical resistance Sensor. The sensor is made up of two electrodes. This soil moisture sensor
reads the moisture content around it. A current is passed across the electrodes through the soil and the
resistance to the current in the soil determines the soil moisture. If the soil has more water resistance
will be low and thus more current will pass through. On the other hand when the soil moisture is low
the sensor module outputs a high level of resistance.
• This sensor has both digital and analogue outputs. Digital output is simple to use but is not as accurate
as the analogue output.

YL-69 MOISTURE SENSOR(PROBES)
Fig 2.2.1: YL-69 (Probes)

YL - 38 INTERFACE FOR YL-69 PROBES
• The sensor comes with a small PCB board fitted with LM393 comparator chip and a potentiometer.
• Output signal Pins (Both Analog and Digital).
• Input Power pins for the sensor is also present on this PCB.
Fig 2.2.2: YL-38 (Interface)

CONNECTING DIAGRAM
Fig 3.1: Soil Moisture Sensor connected to Arduino (Ref)

PICTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION
Fig 3.2: Soil Moisture Sensor connected to Arduino (Ref)

HARDWARE REQUIRED
 Arduino UNO(Fig 4)
 Soil Moisture Sensor(Fig 5)
 3 Pin Dual Female Jumper wire(Fig 6)
 Sensor shield (Optional, not required)
Fig 4:Arduino UNO (Ref)
Fig 6:Female Jumper Wire(Ref)
Fig 5:Soil Moisture Sensor (Ref)

SIMPLE BASIC SKETCH-1
• void setup() {
• // put your setup code here, to run once:
• // initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
• Serial.begin(9600);
• }
• void loop() {
• // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
• // read the input on analog pin 0:
• int sensorValue = analogRead(A0); Serial.println(sensorValue);
• delay(100);
• }

SIMPLE BASIC SKETCH-2
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop(){
if(analogRead(A0)<300){
Serial.println("I feel so comfortable");
}
if(analogRead(A0)>300 && analogRead(5)<700){
Serial.println("I am thirsty ,please give me water");
}
if(analogRead(A0)>700){
Serial.println("Too much water,I might get hurt");
}
delay(200);
}

TEST RESULTS:
• Moisture content is less in soil.

TEST RESULTS CONTINUE:
After watering :
• Moisture content is within the range in soil.

TEST RESULTS CONTINUE:
Adding more water :
• Moisture content is out of range in soil.

REFERENCE
S.No. LINK
1. http://www.fut-electronics.com/wp-content/plugins/fe_downloads/Uploads/moisture-sensor-arduino.pdf
2. http://lowtech.propositions.org.uk/lowtech-sensors-and-actuators.pdf
3. https://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/SensorShield

THANK YOU 
• Keep Experimenting 
• Keep Loving Open Source.

Soil Moisture Sensor and Arduino

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