A Comprehensive Comparison of IoT Soil Moisture Sensors for Agricultural Applications

Precision agriculture depends on precise and timely information to enhance resource utilization and increase crop production. This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of four different soil sensors, each employing unique sensing technologies: the Zigbee Soil Sensor, True TDR-315H, ESP32 Capacitive Soil Sensor, and ComWinTop Soil Moisture Sensor. The objective is to assess and contrast their performance in delivering accurate data, consistency, and capabilities for immediate monitoring. By integrating accurate and immediate data, precision agriculture can make informed decisions to improve resource management and crop yields. The focus of this analysis is to offer a thorough review of these soil sensors, evaluating their effectiveness in real-time monitoring, precision of data, and dependability in agricultural settings. Upon examination of the specified sensors, the True TDR-315H emerged as the most accurate, with the ComWinTop Sensor closely following. When using the TDR-315H as a standard for comparison in this research, the ComWinTop's accuracy was found to be around 90%. Additionally, the ComWinTop is significantly more cost-effective than the TDR-315H, being 60% cheaper, thereby offering a more viable solution for a wide range of soil moisture monitoring applications.