Capacitance probes have become a core part of irrigation management in many countries around the world, however their uptake has been constrained by their relatively high cost and their complexity. As a result, Australian water management company, Agrilink, has fundamentally redesigned the capacitance probe to make it simpler to use, more reliable and much more affordable. In addition, they have also released a new range of loggers and telemetry designed to make data transfer flexible and easy.

The AquaSpy probe has been specifically designed for agricultural soil moisture monitoring and the totally sealed construction ensures maintenance free operation. Gone are the expensive brass rings that are a feature of existing capacitance probes. These are replaced by a revolutionary new patented design that enables 60” probes with 15 sensors (i.e. a sensor every 4”) to be purchased for less than the cost of a traditional 3 sensor probe. In addition, the sensor is now fixed to the inside wall of the probe, removing the air gaps inside the tube and ensuring far more accurate and repeatable results. This is critical when calibrating probes for research or water balance studies, but is also an enhancement that benefits cotton irrigators as well.

The AquaSpy probes have been designed to be plug-and-play when used with the AquaSpy data node and telemetry. The data node automatically recognises the probe in the same way that a modern computer recognises new hardware when it is plugged in and automatically selects the appropriate drivers. A range of manual, radio or cellular download options are available to deliver data to either online or PC based software. This makes the AquaSpy system very easy to use and eliminates the need for expensive technical support.

Capacitance probes have been a core part of the improvements in water use efficiency and yield that have been enjoyed by Australian cotton growers over the past 5 years. The release of this new range of sensors in the USA in 2007, will not only enable US growers to share in the benefits but also capitalise on the new technology. AquaSpy sets a new standard in soil moisture monitoring for irrigation scheduling as it is simpler, more reliable and more affordable than ever before.