Table 3. Pros, cons, and an estimated price of SMS highly used for irrigation (adapted from Ling, 2004; Munoz-Carpena, 2004; Maughan et al., 2015; Sample et al., 2016; Labodia Prima, 2019; Sharma, 2019; Singh et al., 2019; Risinger, 2021; Robinson, 2021)
| SMS | Pros | Cons | Price |
|---|
| Tensiometer | Capable of high frequency sampling
Salinity buffering
Large sensing area (8 - inch diameter)
Direct water potential reading for irrigation scheduling
Continuous measurements at same location
Not affected by salinity
Comes in different lengths | Maintenance to replace water in tube could be necessary
Might have to be reset frequently in coarse or swelling soils
Less intuitive due to negative relationship between volumetric water content and tensiometer reading
Requiring periodic service
Not useful in drier soil conditions
Not suitable for fine soil texture
Slow response time to soil water changes
Do not withstand cold soil temperatures
Manual readings and data collection
Should be read daily when crop water use is high to detect false readings due to air bubbles entering the tube
Soil temperatures below freezing can also seriously damage the tensiometer. It must be removed from the ground and stored before soil temperatures drop to freezing | $75 - $125 per sensor\n$140 - $155 for transducer |