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A Monitoring Method for Agricultural Soil Moisture Using Wireless Sensors and the Biswas Model

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanzhen Zhang

    (College of Software, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China)

  • Guofang Wang

    (College of Resources and Environmental Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China)

  • Lingzhi Li

    (College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China)

  • Mingjing Huang

    (Shanxi Institute of Organic Dryland Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, China)

Abstract

Efficient monitoring of soil moisture is crucial for optimizing water usage and ensuring crop health in agricultural fields, especially under rainfed conditions. This study proposes a high-throughput soil moisture monitoring method that integrates LoRa-based wireless sensor networks with region-specific statistical models. Wireless sensors were deployed in the top 0–0.2 m soil layer to gather real-time moisture data, which were then combined with the Biswas model to estimate soil moisture distribution down to a depth of 2.0 m. The model was calibrated using field capacity and crop wilting coefficients. Results demonstrated a strong correlation between model predictions and actual measured soil moisture storage, with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) exceeding 0.94. Additionally, 83% of sample points had relative errors below 18.5%, and for depths of 0–1.2 m, 90% of sample points had relative errors under 15%. The system effectively tracked daily soil moisture dynamics during maize growth, with predicted evapotranspiration relative errors under 10.25%. This method provides a cost-effective and scalable tool for soil moisture monitoring, supporting irrigation optimization and improving water use efficiency in dryland agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanzhen Zhang & Guofang Wang & Lingzhi Li & Mingjing Huang, 2025. "A Monitoring Method for Agricultural Soil Moisture Using Wireless Sensors and the Biswas Model," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:344-:d:1584375
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    References listed on IDEAS

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