How One Farm Used a Dirt Sensor to Save Water and Help the Soil

Bykorvaforag

Davis Farms is a big farm in Kansas that grows crops like corn and soybeans. For a long time, they had a problem.

They never knew the best time to water their fields.

They used to water their crops on the same days every week. But this caused problems:

  • Sometimes they watered too much. This wasted money and washed good food away from the plants’ roots.
  • Sometimes they did not water enough. This made the plants thirsty and stressed.
  • Their soil was becoming hard and not good at holding water.

They were spending too much money on water and fuel for their water pumps. They needed to stop guessing.

Putting “Eyes” in the Soil

The farm decided to try something new. They installed special tools called Wireless Substrate Sensors.

Here is how they did it:

  • They put 15 of these sensors deep in the dirt in five different fields.
  • The sensors constantly check how much water is in the soil.
  • The information from the sensors gets sent straight to the farmer’s computer or phone.

Now, instead of watering on a schedule, the farmer only waters the crops when the sensors say the soil is getting dry. This is called “watering based on data.”

Saving Money and Building Better Soil

After using the sensors for one full growing season, the farm saw great results.

The results in numbers:

  • They used 20% less water. This saved them a lot of money.
  • They used 15% less fuel for their water pumps.
  • The farmer saved 5 to 7 hours each week because he didn’t have to drive around checking the soil by hand.

The results for the soil and crops:

  • The soil moisture was just right 35% more often. The plants were happier.
  • The plants grew longer and stronger roots.
  • The dirt itself became healthier. It became softer and better at soaking up rain and holding onto water for later.

What This Means for the Future

Using the soil sensors was a big success for Davis Farms. The money they saved on water and fuel paid for the sensors in just one year.

Now, their soil is healthier, which is better for their crops in the long run. The farm was so happy with the results that they plan to put these sensors in even more of their fields next year.

“MAHA Digs in to Soil Health.” AgWeb, edited by Pro Farmer Editors, 24 July 2025, www.agweb.com/news/maha-digs-soil-health