Soil Moisture Weather Stations: Integrating Meteorology and Soil Moisture for Smart Agriculture

Meteorology and soil moisture are two fundamental elements in agriculture. Meteorology determines the "timing" of agriculture, while soil moisture reflects the "favorable geographical conditions". Together, they form the environmental framework for crop growth.

The dynamic changes in meteorology directly affect the energy and material cycles in the farmland ecosystem. For example, temperature is not only a key factor determining the crop growth cycle, but also its diurnal fluctuations can affect the plant metabolism rate. An appropriate diurnal temperature difference is conducive to sugar accumulation, but extreme high temperatures may cause pollen inactivation, and low temperatures may trigger frost disasters, damaging cell structures. The spatial - temporal distribution of the precipitation pattern is directly related to the water supply in agriculture. Heavy rain may wash away topsoil and cause waterlogging, while long - term drought can disrupt the water absorption of crops and even lead to root dehydration and death. In addition, light intensity and photoperiod regulate photosynthesis efficiency and crop phenology. Wind conditions can not only promote gas exchange inside and outside the greenhouse but also change the plant morphology through mechanical stress. In recent years, frequent extreme weather events such as typhoons and hailstorms have caused devastating blows to the agricultural production system in a short time.

Soil moisture, as an intuitive representation of soil water content, is essentially the result of the interaction between meteorological elements and soil properties. Soil water content not only determines the starting time of seed germination but also regulates the water use efficiency throughout the growth period by affecting the rhizosphere environment. When the soil moisture is within the critical range of field capacity, the proportion of water and gas in the soil pores is most suitable for crop root respiration and nutrient absorption. If the water content is too low, the increase in soil solution osmotic pressure will hinder the passive transport of water to the roots. An oversaturated state will lead to blocked oxygen diffusion, triggering anaerobic respiration in roots and accumulating toxic metabolites. The responses of soil moisture in different soil textures vary significantly. Sandy soil has weak water - holding capacity but strong permeability, while clay is prone to forming surface runoff or internal stagnant water. Modern agriculture can accurately formulate irrigation strategies through soil moisture monitoring. For example, maintaining moderate water stress during the jointing stage can promote the root penetration of wheat, and ensuring sufficient soil moisture during the filling stage is beneficial for grain plumpness.

It is worth noting that there is a dynamic coupling relationship between meteorological elements and soil moisture. Sustained high temperatures will accelerate soil water evaporation and transpiration, changing the spatial distribution of soil moisture. Precipitation events reconstruct the soil water profile through the infiltration process. This interaction makes the farmland water - heat balance always in a state of dynamic adjustment, profoundly affecting the stability and sustainability of agricultural production.

The Soil moisture weather station is an automated monitoring system in farmland that integrates meteorological element observation and soil moisture detection. It uses a sensor network to monitor multi - dimensional dynamic data in the farmland environment in real - time.

Its core consists of a meteorological observation module and a soil monitoring module. The meteorological module continuously records key meteorological elements such as air temperature, humidity, light intensity, wind speed and direction, and precipitation through high - precision sensors. It can also expand to monitor parameters such as atmospheric pressure and ultraviolet radiation, forming a complete data chain of the farmland micro - climate. The soil monitoring module dynamically detects soil water content, temperature, and electrical conductivity through sensors (such as dielectric constant sensors) buried at different depths. It can simultaneously monitor soil salinity, pH value, and other indicators, achieving three - dimensional soil moisture perception from the surface layer to the root layer.

The monitoring data is transmitted to the background system through a wireless network, and agricultural advice is automatically generated in combination with an agricultural analysis model. It reminds of irrigation when the soil moisture is insufficient and warns of frost prevention before the arrival of a cold wave. It can also judge the development trend of drought according to rainfall and evaporation data. In practical applications, these data can help farmers grasp the farming time, such as determining the sowing time in combination with soil temperature, adjusting the amount of irrigation water according to the humidity differences in the fields, or choosing the right weather for fertilization and pesticide spraying.

The device adopts a low - power design and can work stably in the field for a long time. It can not only store data locally but also transmit it to mobile phones or computers in real - time. Some high - end devices also support connection to satellites, drones, and other devices to expand the monitoring range. Its core technologies include reliable sensors, stable data transmission, and practical data analysis software, ultimately helping farmers reduce resource waste, avoid disaster losses, and achieve more scientific planting management.