Soil Moisture Sensor Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report, by Product, Type and Application : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027

Soil Moisture Sensor Market Outlook – 2027 

The global soil moisture sensor market was valued at $215.8 million in 2019 and is projected to reach $411.2 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 9.1% from 2020 to 2027. Currently, the exponential growth of population is the major concern globally, which has led to more acquisition of land for building homes and increase in water consumption in these newly developed residential areas. Hence, the key resources required to produce food are anticipated to diminish in the future. As a result, producing the required quantity of food remains a critical issue. Thus, advancements in technology plays a vital role to improve the production yield and quality. 

Soil moisture sensors are one of the prominent agricultural equipment used to gauge the volumetric water content within the soil. Soil moisture sensors enable farmers to take precise decisions in planning for agricultural activities. In addition, these sensors serve as useful equipment for environmentalists in determining the drought conditions and understand the biodiversity in a region. Moreover, they play an integral role in soil water profiling, pollution monitoring, civil engineering, and forestry. Considering these factors, soil moisture sensor market is estimated to witness a steady growth during the forecast period.

Factors such as surge in adoption of smart agricultural equipment and increase in research activities in the field of agriculture and environment act as the key driving forces of the global soil moisture sensor market growth. However, emergence of soilless farming techniques hinders the growth of the growth. On the contrary, the introduction of wireless soil moisture sensors is expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the growth of the global market during the forecast period. 

The outbreak of COVID-19 has negligible impact on the soil moisture sensor market growth rate in 2020, and the market is anticipated to witness steady growth by the end of 2021. Although partial or complete lockdown was imposed across various countries, agricultural activities were exclusively excluded from lockdown. However, companies faced some delay in procuring raw materials. In addition, the disrupted global supply chain posed some challenges for manufacturers to reach their customers in niche areas. Despite these factors, agricultural activities continued, and the demand for soil moisture sensors from farmers prevailed. 

Key Takeaways 

• The global soil moisture sensor market study covers 20 countries. The research includes a segment analysis of each country in terms of value for the projected period.  

• More than 1,500 product literatures, industry releases, annual reports, and other such documents of major soil moisture sensor market industry participants along with authentic industry journals, trade associations' releases, and government websites have been reviewed for generating high-value industry insights.  

• The study integrated high-quality data, professional opinions and analysis, and critical independent perspectives. The research approach is intended to provide a balanced view of global markets and to assist stakeholders in making educated decisions to achieve their most ambitious growth objectives. 

Key Market Dynamics 

The global shift towards precision agriculture, driven by the need for more efficient and sustainable farming practices, is a primary driver. Soil moisture sensors play a crucial role in monitoring water usage, helping farmers optimize irrigation and reduce water wastage. As climate change impacts water resources, the demand for precision tools like soil moisture sensors grows, particularly in water-scarce regions. As global populations increase, so does the demand for food. Farmers are under pressure to maximize crop yields, and efficient water management is essential for this. Soil moisture sensors allow for better control over irrigation, directly influencing crop health and productivity, which in turn drives the demand for these sensors in the agricultural sector. 

Segment Overview:

The global soil moisture sensor market is segmented on the basis of product, type, application, and region. Depending on product, the market is fragmented into tensiometric, volumetric, and solid-state sensors. The volumetric segment dominated the soil moisture sensor market in terms of revenue in 2019, and is expected to follow the same trend during the forecast period. 

On the basis of type, the market is segregated into analog and digital. The analog segment accounted for the highest market share in 2019, and is expected to grow at a high CAGR from 2020 to 2027. The applications covered in the study include agriculture, research, and others. The global soil moisture sensor industry is dominated by the agriculture segment in terms of value. 

Region wise, the global soil moisture sensor market is analyzed across North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, and rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East, and Africa).  North America accounted for the highest share, owing to the high dependency of agricultural activities on technology in this region.

According to a study conducted by Paul Bullock, a soil scientist at the University of Manitoba, the growers in Canada have started to adopt farm-level soil moisture data, as it is benefitting to increase their output cost-effectively. Asia-Pacific was the second largest contributor in terms of revenue, and is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, owing to increase in awareness among farmers toward benefits of using soil moisture sensors for increasing productivity. 

Regional/Country Market Outlook 

• North America: North America is one of the leading regions in the soil moisture sensor market, driven by the early adoption of precision agriculture technologies and advanced irrigation techniques. The U.S., in particular, has a strong presence in the soil moisture sensor market due to the integration of IoT and smart farming practices. 

• Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the fastest growth in the coming years due to increasing agricultural activities in countries like China, India, and Australia. The region is experiencing a growing demand for efficient irrigation systems to combat water scarcity, which is a pressing issue in parts of Asia. 

• Europe: Europe is experiencing significant growth, particularly in countries like Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. The region’s stringent environmental regulations, focus on sustainable farming, and government-led water conservation efforts are key growth drivers. 

• Latin America & Middle East: Latin America, particularly Brazil and Argentina, is emerging as a key soil moisture sensor market due to the region's vast agricultural base and increasing awareness about water management solutions. Governments in the region are promoting the adoption of precision farming technologies to enhance crop yield and sustainability. Water scarcity is a major concern in the Middle East and parts of Africa, which has spurred the demand for water-saving technologies like soil moisture sensors. Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are focusing on the adoption of advanced farming techniques to ensure food security. 

Top Impacting Factors

The significant impacting factors of the soil moisture sensor market include increase in demand for food, surge in population, limited availability of arable land, and technological development of agricultural equipment. However, emergence of soilless agriculture is expected to hinder the market growth. Conversely, emergence of wireless sensors is projected to offer remunerative opportunities to the soil moisture sensor industry. Each of these factors is anticipated to have a definite impact on the market during the forecast period.

Competitive Analysis

Competitive analysis and profiles of the major soil moisture sensor market players, such as Acclima Inc., Delta-T Devices Ltd, METER Group Inc., OTT Hydromet GmbH, SDEC France, Smartcultiva Corporation, Spectrum Technologies Inc., Stevens Water Monitoring Systems Inc., Trellis, and Vegetronix Inc. are provided in this report. These key players have adopted various strategies, such as product portfolio expansion, mergers & acquisitions, agreements, geographical expansion, and collaborations, to enhance their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry.

Report Coverage & Deliverables 

This report delivers in-depth insights into the soil moisture sensor market by product, type, application, and region, and key strategies employed by major players. It offers detailed soil moisture sensor market forecasts and emerging trends. 

Product Insights 

Tensiometric sensors measure the water tension in soil, indicating how easily plants can extract water. These sensors are widely used in agriculture for irrigation scheduling. These sensors are particularly popular in dry and arid regions where water conservation is critical. They help in understanding the water potential in the soil, allowing farmers to optimize irrigation schedules. Volumetric soil moisture sensors measure the volume of water present in the soil. These sensors are more precise than tensiometric sensors and are often used in research and high-precision farming applications. Volumetric sensors are benefiting from advancements in wireless and IoT technologies, which allow remote monitoring and data collection. 

Type Insights 

Digital sensors convert the moisture level readings into binary signals that can be easily interpreted by digital systems. These sensors are more accurate and easier to integrate with modern, smart farming systems. The integration of digital sensors with IoT networks and data analytics platforms is driving soil moisture sensor market growth, allowing for better water management and resource optimization. 

Application Insights 

Agriculture is the dominant application for soil moisture sensors, driven by the need for efficient water management and the increasing adoption of precision farming practices. High initial costs for advanced sensor systems and the need for technical knowledge can be barriers to adoption, particularly for small-scale farmers. 

Regional Insights 

North America leads the soil moisture sensormarket due to early adoption of precision farming technologies and robust agricultural infrastructure. The U.S. and Canada are at the forefront of integrating soil moisture sensors with IoT systems, optimizing water usage in farming. Asia-Pacific is expected to see the fastest growth due to the large agricultural base and increasing demand for food security. Countries like China, India, and Australia are investing in smart irrigation systems and technologies to combat water scarcity. China and India are major markets due to their vast agricultural sectors, and government initiatives aimed at modernizing farming practices. Australia is adopting soil moisture sensors to optimize water usage in its agricultural activities, especially given its frequent droughts. 

Key Strategies and Developments 

• In 2024, a notable advancement in agricultural technology occurred with the launch of GroGuru's wireless soil sensor probe. This innovative device, developed in partnership with AquaCheck, integrates GroGuru's patented Wireless Underground System (WUGS) technology, which allows for continuous root zone monitoring of soil moisture and temperature in annual field crops.. 

• In  2024 - Apollo Agriculture secured a $10 million investment in 2024 to expand its operations in Kenya, furthering the integration of digital platforms in African agriculture​. Additionally, the U.S. and UAE-backed $9 billion investment into sustainable farming practices marks a significant commitment to agricultural innovation and modernization on a global scale​. 

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

• This study comprises analytical depiction of the global soil moisture sensor market size along with the current trends and future estimations to depict the imminent investment pockets.
• The overall soil moisture sensor market analysis is determined to understand the profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold.
• The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities with a detailed impact analysis.
• The current soil moisture sensor market forecast is quantitatively analyzed from 2019 to 2027 to benchmark the financial competency.
• Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in the soil moisture sensor market.
• The report includes the soil moisture sensor market share of key vendors and soil moisture sensor market trends.

  Soil Moisture Sensor Market Report Highlights