Tensiometers for Precision Irrigation

Irrigate on what the root zone actually feels, not a fixed schedule. The Agrinovo tensiometer range measures soil water tension continuously, from shallow beds to deep orchards, and feeds it straight into IoT dashboards and irrigation automation.

Get a Quote Compare the Range

Tensiometer or Granular Matrix Sensor?

Two ways to read soil water tension. The right one depends on how precise you need the wet range and how much maintenance you want.

Tensiometer

A water-filled tube reads soil tension directly and accurately in the wet range where most irrigation decisions are made. The tradeoff is periodic refilling. It is the precise choice for high-value crops managed close to field capacity.

Range 0-80 cb, ±1 cb at field capacity. Available in three tube lengths for shallow, mid, and deep root zones.

Granular Matrix (Watermark 200SS)

The Watermark 200SS is maintenance-free, reads a wider 0-200 cb range, and lasts multiple seasons with no refilling. Accuracy is coarser (±15% of reading, 10-100 cb).

The right choice when low maintenance and a wide dry-range readout matter more than wet-range precision.

The Agrinovo Tensiometer Range

Three Irrometer tube lengths, matched to root-zone depth. All measure 0-80 cb at ±1 cb accuracy.

Short Range

Irrometer SR

Root-zone depth
15-30 cm (6-12 in)
Range
0-80 cb (kPa)
Accuracy
±1 cb at field capacity

Vegetables, flowers, turf, greenhouse and nursery beds where the active root zone is shallow.

View Irrometer SR
Mid-Length

Irrometer MLT

Root-zone depth
45-60 cm (18-24 in)
Range
0-80 cb (kPa)
Accuracy
±1 cb at field capacity

Field crops, orchards and vineyards at standard mid root-zone depth.

View Irrometer MLT
Long Tube

Irrometer LT

Root-zone depth
90-120 cm (36-48 in)
Range
0-80 cb (kPa)
Accuracy
±1 cb at field capacity

Deep-rooted orchards and vineyards, and percolation monitoring below the root zone.

View Irrometer LT

Want a maintenance-free option with a wider range? Compare the Watermark 200SS granular matrix sensor, or read the tensiometer irrigation guide for how they work and how to read them. Evaluating other soil sensor platforms? See our honest product comparisons.

Continuous Readings, Automated Irrigation

Every tensiometer in the range connects to an Agrinovo Genesis controller, turning a manual gauge into a continuous, cloud-logged signal. See tension trends across every station, get alerts when a zone dries past your threshold, and let the controller open and close valves automatically. It all runs through the IoT soil monitoring platform.

Get a Quote

Tensiometer Questions, Answered

Choosing, installing, and automating soil tension sensors

Which tensiometer should I choose for my crop?
Choose by the depth of the active root zone. The SR (short range) suits shallow-rooted vegetables, flowers, turf, and greenhouse beds at 15-30 cm. The MLT (mid-length) covers field crops and orchards at 45-60 cm. The LT (long tube) reaches the deep root zone of orchards and vineyards at 90-120 cm. Many operations place more than one depth per station to see the full moisture profile.

What is the difference between a tensiometer and a granular matrix sensor?
A tensiometer measures soil water tension directly with a water-filled tube and reads accurately in the wet range, but the tube needs periodic refilling. A granular matrix sensor like the Watermark 200SS is maintenance-free, covers a wider 0-200 cb range, and lasts multiple seasons, at a coarser accuracy. Tensiometers are the choice for precise wet-range irrigation; the Watermark is the choice when low maintenance and a wide range matter more.

How deep should a tensiometer be installed?
Install the sensing tip at the depth where the crop draws most of its water. Shallow vegetables and turf are read at 15-30 cm, field crops and orchards at 45-60 cm, and deep-rooted trees and vines at 90-120 cm. A second, deeper station is useful to confirm that water is reaching, and not passing below, the root zone.

Do tensiometers need maintenance?
Yes. A tensiometer holds water in its tube and needs periodic refilling and servicing, especially after the soil dries past the point where the tube can hold vacuum. If maintenance-free operation is the priority, the Watermark 200SS granular matrix sensor provides soil tension data without the refilling routine.

Can tensiometers automate irrigation?
Yes. Connected to an Agrinovo Genesis controller, a tensiometer reading drives closed-loop irrigation: when tension rises past your dry threshold the controller opens the valve, and when it falls past the wet threshold it closes. Readings, alerts, and automation run through the IoT soil monitoring platform.