Soil Moisture Sensor-Based Controllers
Testing Protocols for Turf and Landscape Irrigation Equipment
SWAT Definition: Smart Controller
Product Testing
Product testing is offered at the Center for Irrigation Technology in Fresno, California. To learn more about submitting your product for testing, please contact:
Ed Norum
Center for Irrigation Technology
Tel: 559.278.2066
Test Protocol for Soil Moisture Sensor-based Controller Version 3.0
This testing protocol combines Phase 1 Draft 8 and Phase 2 Draft 4 testing protocols into one testing protocol. Appropriate comments from the 30-day public comment period for Draft 2 have been incorporated into version 3.0 which will now be the testing protocol for soil moisture sensors and soil moisture-based controllers.
Draft 2: Test Protocol for Soil Moisture Sensor-based Controller
Comment period is open until May 16, 2011 on Draft 2 of the protocol which has incorporated comments received from Draft 1. Public comments will be collected and posted each week. Submit comments to iaswat@irrigation.org.
Draft 1: Test Protocol for Soil Moisture Sensor-based Controllers
Comments for the first draft are open for 90 days (closing 12/30/2010). The original draft is posted below along with the comments received and a summary review. Public comments will be accumulated and posted each week during the comment period. Submit comments to iaswat@irrigation.org.
Phase 1, Draft 8: Test Protocol
Comment period closed. The original draft and public comments are below.
Phase 2, Draft 4: Test Protocol
The 90-day comment period posted in November 2008 has closed. Comments will be compiled and published, including the name of the individual submitting the comment. A summary review will also be published with the decision about whether to accept the change.
Phase 1, Draft 7: Test Protocol
Comment period closed. The comments and summary review are published below.
Comment period closed. The comments and summary review are published below.
Phase 1, Draft 6 and Phase 2, Draft 3: Test Protocols
Comment period closed. The comments and review summaries are published below.
Comment period closed. The comments and review summaries are published below.
Notes: Soil Moisture Sensor Meeting, Jan. 15, 2008, CIT, Fresno, Calif.Representatives from 12 soil moisture sensor manufacturers met together with water provider representatives, SWAT committee representatives and IA staff. The goal was to jointly advance the development of the proposed draft protocols for testing of individual sensors and how effectively they control irrigation events.
Phase 1, Draft 5 and Phase 2, Draft 2: Test Protocols
Comment period closed. The next draft of test protocols will address the comments submitted and incorporate comments from the Jan. 15, 2008 meeting.
Phase 2, Draft 1: Test Protocols
The Phase 2 first draft test protocol began to address the "Outdoor Operational Test on Turf Grass," which integrates the soil sensor with an irrigation controller to measure irrigation adequacy and efficiency in a virtual landscape.
Phase 1, Drafts 1-4: Test Protocols for Indoor Lab Screening Tests
Key development of Phase 1 protocols took place in the first through fourth drafts. Phase 1 beta testing began at the fourth draft of the test protocols. The objective of Phase 1 lab tests is to evaluate how well current soil moisture sensor technology functions over a range of conditions that affect soil moisture, including soil type, temperature and salinity. Phase 1 Soil Moisture Sensor testing results do not measure the integration of a soil sensor with a controller to manage irrigation.
Key development of Phase 1 protocols took place in the first through fourth drafts. Phase 1 beta testing began at the fourth draft of the test protocols. The objective of Phase 1 lab tests is to evaluate how well current soil moisture sensor technology functions over a range of conditions that affect soil moisture, including soil type, temperature and salinity.