Soil Moisture Sensor Market

Market Overview

The global soil moisture sensor market size was valued at USD 251.9 million in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 565.4 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Farmers can make informed decisions when preparing for various agricultural activities thanks to soil moisture sensors. Gypsum blocks, tensiometers, and probes are low-cost sensors frequently used in various settings, including forestry, ground care, residential, research, and agriculture. A tensiometer's ease of use, adaptability, and low cost makes it possible to measure soil water tension directly. Both moist and wet soil can have their soil water tension measured. Between soil particles and water molecules, tension is measured. The ease of measurement and accuracy of the sensor for a precise measurement of soil tension hasincreased the use of tensiometers to measure moisture.The digitalization of a farm involves a variety of technologies. However, the most crucial are sensors that measure parameters like rainfall, water levels, soil moisture, and livestock data locally and remotely using a drone. To determine the volumetric water content of the soil, soil moisture sensors are used. They use soil characteristics like the dielectric constant, electrical resistance, and interaction with neutrons as proxies for the moisture content when measuring the water content. These sensors are used in various fields, including agriculture, sports, weather forecasting, construction, mining, and academic research.

Market Dynamics

What Are the Factors Driving the Market for Soil Moisture Sensors?

Soil Moisture Assists in Understanding the Functioning of Natural Environment

In a natural setting, the soil moisture content is crucial for vegetation development. Any plant's roots will delve into the soil to access the water and nutrients there. Plants struggle to survive when the soil moisture drops below the wilting point. Soil moisture content, therefore, plays a significant role in regulating the biogeography of plant species. Additionally, soil moisture is crucial in regulating water and heat energy transfer between the earth's surface and the atmosphere via plant transpiration and evaporation. As a result, the soil's moisture content significantly impacts how weather patterns and precipitation are created. As a result, environmentalists are increasingly in need of soil moisture sensors, which are expected to support the market's expansion.The digitalization of a farm involves a variety of technologies. However, the most crucial are sensors that measure parameters like rainfall, water levels, soil moisture, and livestock data locally and remotely using a drone. To determine the volumetric water content of the soil, soil moisture sensors are used.

Soil Moisture Acts as A Vital Parameter for Agriculture

Farmers can determine the precise amount of water needed for healthy crop growth by measuring soil moisture, allowing for highly effective irrigation and eradicating water waste. Additionally, it shows that farms should estimate their need for irrigation in advance. Additionally, the moisture content of the soil enables farmers to plan field work at any stage of crop growth efficiently. It aids farmers in scheduling their plantings and in forecasting and tracking dry spells. A tensiometer's ease of use, adaptability, and low cost makes it possible to measure soil water tension directly. Both moist and wet soil can have their soil water tension measured. Between soil particles and water molecules, tension is measured. The ease of measurement and accuracy of the sensor for a precise measurement of soil tension hasincreased the use of tensiometers for moisture measurement. As a result, agriculture is the main factor propelling the market for soil moisture sensors to proliferate.

What Are the Challenges for Soil Moisture Sensor Market?

Emergence Of Soilless Farming Techniques

Although soil is the most typical medium for growing crops worldwide, it has some drawbacks toproducing safe food because of the presence of nematodes, soil-borne diseases, and drainage. These factors consequently sparked the development of soilless farming methods like hydroponics and aeroponics. These techniques are predicated on the notion that nutrients, rather than soil, are essential for plant growth. Intensive crop production, flexibility, and precise water supply control are all made possible by soilless farming techniques. Additionally, soilless farming methods have the benefits of eliminating soil-borne diseases, requiring less labor, and producing more. Thus, it is anticipated that the development of soilless farming methods during the forecast period will restrain the market growth for soil moisture sensors. Unskilled workers will likely encounter unique difficulties when installing soil moisture sensors on farms and construction sites. The incorrect reading of the soil's water content caused by improper soil moisture sensor installation results in losses.

What Are the Future Prospects of Soil Moisture Sensors?

Potential Opportunities In Developing Countries

Food security is crucial, particularly in developing nations where environmental deterioration is a severe danger—Agricultureprimaryone of the primary sources of income in developing nations like China, India, and Brazil. To meet the demand for food production with the rapidly expanding population, these nations must effectively utilize the available arable land. The need for soil moisture sensors is expected to increase in these developing nations because the soil moisture content is essential in determining crop production. Soil moisture sensor producers anticipate profitable business opportunities in developing nations. Wireless soil moisture sensors have the same primary purpose but also provide users with additional benefits. For instance, installing wireless soil moisture sensors is simple and quick. They also use wireless technology linked to users' smartphones, like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Segmental Analysis

The market is segmented by Product,type, and application.

Based on the product, the global soil moisture sensor market is bifurcated into tensiometric, volumetric, and solid-state sensors.

The volumetric segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period.Volumetric soil moisture sensors are designed to measure the water content of the soil directly. Dielectric sensors, heat dissipation sensors, and neutron moisture probes are popular volumetric soil moisture sensors. Volumetric soil moisture sensors are pricey because they use cutting-edge technology to measure the soil’s moisture content. These sensors deliver data quickly and with great accuracy. As a result, these sensors are in high demand, accelerating the market's growth.

Based on type, the global soil moisture sensor market is bifurcated into analog and digital.

The digital segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period.A battery is built into the device to power the screen on digital soil moisture sensors. Like analog soil moisture sensors, these sensors' probes do not corrode. A tiny electromagnetic pulse is produced by these sensors, which detect moisture. These sensors typically have long cables attached to the probes. The main benefits of using digital soil moisture sensors are how simple it is to get output in digital forms and how little time it takes to interpret and calculate data. Some of the more recent digital soil moisture sensors have USB charging ports. It is anticipated that such technological advancements will accelerate the market growth for digital soil moisture sensors during the forecast period.

Based on application, the global soil moisture sensor market is bifurcated into agriculture, research, and others.

The agriculture segment is the Major contributor to the market and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period.Livestock production, crop production, agricultural economics, and agricultural engineering are the broad categories under which agriculture can be divided. However, only crop production is considered for the soil moisture sensors market as other categories are unimportant. Agriculture in developed nations is heavily reliant on technology. However, most developing nations continue to engage in traditional agricultural practices, and these are the nations whose GDP is significantly influenced by agricultural income. Numerous techniques for intensive agriculture are being used in light of the rising demand for crop production. During the forecast period, the market will grow faster due to the use of soil moisture sensors to increase productivity.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market.

The global soil moisture sensor market is bifurcated into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

North America is the highest shareholder in the global soil moisture sensor market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period.The U.S. and Canada are included in the analysis of the soil moisture sensor market in North America.Technology is a significant factor in the agricultural activities in this area, which has increased farm size and agricultural output. In this region, the use of soil moisture sensors for implementing smart irrigation techniques is expanding quickly, which significantly aids in the market's expansion. The International Center for Water Technology tested irrigation methods and found that smart irrigation methods could save up to 20% more water than conventional methods. As a result, governments worldwide are putting precise farming techniques into practice and raising awareness among farmers about them. It is anticipated that the growing awareness among farmers, particularly in Mexico, will spur the market for soil moisture sensors in North America.The majority of American agriculture relies heavily on cutting-edge technology to boost yield. Soil moisture sensors help agriculture flourish economically and environmentally.The survey found that 89% of growers could conserve water, soil, fuel, and electricity using soil moisture sensors and monitoring systems.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period. China, Australia, India, Japan, and the rest of Asia-Pacific are all included in the Asia-Pacific soil moisture sensor market analysis.Because more farmers know how technology can be used in agriculture to increase productivity, soil moisture sensors are gaining popularity in the Asia-Pacific region. Due to increased industrialization, natural resources are being used up alarmingly quickly in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, to manage proper irrigation, agricultural activities in this region require technological advancements like soil moisture sensors. The countries in this region should experience high demand for sensors during the forecast period because soil moisture sensors use real-time system methods to evaluate the profitable yield. The Chinese government is promoting using soil moisture sensors to prevent the overuse of land and water waste.Thus, it is anticipated that increased farmer awareness of the advantages of using soil moisture sensors will spur market expansion in China. Japan is concentrating on precision farming methods to meet the rising demand for food production. In precision farming, soil moisture is measured throughout a field at various depths and locations.

Recent Developments

• November 2022, The OTT PLS 500, a new water level sensor from OTT Hydromet, combines the benefits of smart sensor technology with solid reliability and accuracy. Using decades of experience as a foundation, the redesigned PLS 500 keeps many of the trusted, reliable, and robust features of the OTT PLS while improving the sensor to make it more user-friendly.

• May 2022, Toro is bringing innovation to the residential yard care category by introducing a robotic mower that offers cutting-edge, simple-to-use technology and never-before-seen features. Toro has more than a century of experience providing cutting-edge outdoor environment solutions. Its new robotic, battery-powered mower is the newest in connected, smart technology for homeowners and their yards.

Soil Moisture Sensor Market Segmentation

By Product

• Tensiometric
• Volumetric
• Solid State Sensors

By Type

• Analog
• Digital

By Application

• Agriculture
• Research
• Others

By Regions

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• LAMEA