最近，对控制草坪灌溉的兴趣激发了土壤水分测量的全新概念的发展。一些是对张力计和电阻块的改进，而另一些是基于对受水分影响的其他土壤性质的测量。它们都必须处理土壤和土壤水固有的复杂性质。本文讨论了由南加州大都会水区资助的一个项目，旨在探索在住宅灌溉系统的每个灌溉区的选定位置安装土壤水分传感器的商业效益；将传感器与可调电子控制模块相关联，该模块将中断浇水区阀门操作，以响应传感器表征的根区湿度； 以高效、可靠、经济的技术实现节水。对几个传感器的单位一致性、对土壤水分变化的敏感性、肥料的影响、价格以及安装、读取、使用和维护的方便性进行了评估。选择的10个传感器中的每一个首先在粘土罐中进行测试，使用淡水和富含肥料的水，同时使用砂质壤土和粘土。这些传感器在盆栽试验中表现良好，然后在实地研究中进行测试，以考虑根区温度。本文提供了两项研究的结果，以及这些传感器未来研究的几个例子和建议。

Recently, interest in controlling turf irrigation has sparked the development of whole new concepts in soil moisture measurement. Some are refinements of the tensiometer and electrical resistance blocks while others are based on measurement of other soil properties affected by moisture. They all must deal with the inherently complex nature of soil and soil water. This paper discusses a project funded by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to explore the commercial efficacy of installing a soil moisture sensor in a selected location for each watering zone in a residential irrigation system; to associate the sensor with an adjustable electronic control module that will interrupt the watering zone valving operation in response to the sensor characterized degree of root zone wetness; and to accomplish this water saving with effective, dependable, and economic technology. Several sensors were evaluated on unit consistency, sensitivity to soil moisture changes, effects of fertilizer, price, and ease of installation, reading, use, and maintenance. Each of the 10 sensors selected were first tested in clay pots with both sandy loam and clay soils using both fresh water and fertilizer laden water. Those sensors that performed well in the pot tests were then tested in a field study to take into consideration root zone temperature. The results of both studies are provided, as are several examples and recommendations for future research for these sensors.