Hoskin Environmental
Hoskin Geotechnical
Hoskin Instrumentation
Soil Moisture, Water Potential & EC Monitoring
Research-grade soil sensors, tensiometers and cloud data loggers, supported across Canada.
Soil moisture monitoring instruments from METER, Delta-T and Onset, for growers, researchers and integrators. Specified, calibrated and serviced in Canada by the team that has done it since 1946. Tell us what you need to measure and we will tell you which sensor answers it.
Ask a Question / Request a Quote
Tell us what you need to measure: crop or soil, depth, and the decision you are trying to make. Our team replies within one business day with pricing, lead time and a recommendation.
No obligation. We respond within one business day.
Match the sensor to the decision
Soil moisture is four different measurements, and choosing the wrong one is the most common and most expensive mistake in a monitoring programme. Start from the decision you need to make.
| Volumetric water content | How much water is in the soil. The right input for irrigation scheduling, water budgets and yield models. METER TEROS 12, TEROS 10, Delta-T WET150. |
|---|---|
| Water & matric potential | How hard the plant has to work to get that water. The right input for plant water stress, deficit irrigation and drought research. METER TEROS 21, TEROS 32, TEROS 31 tensiometer. |
| Bulk electrical conductivity | Salinity and fertiliser movement through the root zone, the measurement behind fertigation management. TEROS 12, WET150 (moisture, EC and temperature in one probe). |
| Profile & multi-depth | Where the water actually goes, by depth. METER TEROS 54, Delta-T PR2 Profile Probe, HOBOnet multi-depth soil moisture. |
Not sure which you need? Send us the crop or soil, the depth you care about and the decision you are trying to make. Our application specialists will tell you which measurement answers it, and which one you can skip.
Soil moisture monitoring instruments
Everything below is stocked, supported and calibrated in Canada. Follow any instrument for full specifications.
METER TEROS 12
Volumetric water content, temperature and bulk EC in a single rugged probe. The default choice for a new soil moisture programme.
METER TEROS 21
Full-range calibrated matric potential, the measurement that reports plant stress rather than soil water quantity.
METER TEROS 31 Tensiometer
Direct tensiometer measurement for irrigation research and high-value horticulture, where precision matters more than convenience.
METER TEROS 54 Profile Probe
Fixed multi-depth profile from a single installation: root-zone water movement without four separate sensor holes.
METER SOLYX 14
Cost-effective soil moisture sensing for wider spatial coverage, where a full research-grade probe at every point is not justified.
Delta-T WET150
Moisture, EC and temperature in one handheld or fixed sensor. Widely used in substrate and horticultural production.
Delta-T PR2 Profile Probe
Portable profile measurement through the root zone via permanently installed access tubes, many plots, one probe.
METER ZL6 Advanced Logger
Six-sensor logger with cellular upload straight to ZENTRA CLOUD. Deploy it, and the data arrives without a site visit.
Onset HOBOnet Soil Moisture
Wireless soil moisture across a field or block, reporting into a single HOBOnet field monitoring system.
Integration & protocols
If you already run a logger, SCADA system or platform, you do not need ours, you need sensors that speak to it. Most of the professional soil sensors we carry are natively digital.
| SDI-12 | The standard for professional soil and environmental sensors. METER TEROS sensors are SDI-12 native, so they drop into most third-party dataloggers and RTUs without a translator. |
|---|---|
| Modbus RTU / RS-485 | Available across much of the range for industrial and controls integration, where an existing PLC or SCADA layer is already in place. |
| Analog 4–20 mA | Where a legacy input is fixed and cannot be changed, analog output options are available on selected sensors. |
| API & telemetry | ZENTRA CLOUD provides scheduled data export and API access, so measurements can be pulled into your own dashboards, agronomic models or FMIS. |
| OEM & volume | Talk to us about OEM pricing, custom cable lengths and connector terminations before you design the enclosure, not after. |
Instruments for standard soil test methods
Where a method or standard governs the work, the instrument has to match the method. Tell us the standard you are working to and we will confirm what meets it before you order.
- Soil water characteristic curve & water retention: water potential paired with volumetric water content across the moisture range. TEROS 21 and TEROS 12 are commonly deployed together for in-situ retention work.
- Gravimetric water content (ASTM D2216): laboratory oven-dry determination, and the reference every field sensor is ultimately calibrated against. We supply the balances and ovens as well as the sensors.
- Soil suction & field capacity: tensiometers and water potential sensors for direct suction measurement, with calibration documented for audit.
- Hydraulic conductivity & infiltration: field infiltration and conductivity measurement for irrigation design, drainage and compaction studies.
Why specify through Hoskin Scientific
Pre-purchase consultation
Our application specialists match the sensor to the measurement and the site before you buy, a recommendation, not a catalogue.
Calibration and service in Canada
Factory-trained technicians at four Canadian service centres in Coquitlam, Oakville, Lachine and Edmonton calibrate and service instruments to the manufacturer’s published procedure, with documentation for every job.
7–10 day turnaround
Standard calibration turnaround from receipt at a Canadian centre, with rush service available for time-critical field programmes.
Service across the season
Long-running programmes depend on instruments staying calibrated season after season. Annual and semi-annual contracts bundle calibration, maintenance and consumables.
Stock in Canada
Stocked items normally ship within 1–3 business days from a Canadian warehouse, with lead times confirmed on every quote.
Related monitoring applications
Frequently asked questions
Should I measure volumetric water content or water potential?
Volumetric water content tells you how much water is in the soil, which is what you need for irrigation scheduling and water budgets. Water potential tells you how available that water is to the plant, which is what you need for plant stress and deficit irrigation work. Many programmes install both, because the same VWC reading means very different things in sand and in clay.
Will these sensors work with the data logger I already have?
Usually yes. METER TEROS sensors are SDI-12 native, and SDI-12 is supported by most professional dataloggers and RTUs. Modbus RTU over RS-485 and analog 4-20 mA options are available across parts of the range. Send us the make and model of your logger and we will confirm compatibility and the cable termination you need before you order.
Do you calibrate soil sensors in Canada?
Yes. Hoskin Scientific calibrates and services instruments from four Canadian service centres, handled by factory-trained technicians working to the manufacturer's published procedure. Standard turnaround is 7-10 business days from receipt, and every calibration is documented for audit.
How quickly will I get a quote?
Our team typically responds within one business day with pricing, lead time and any application-specific recommendations. Stocked items normally ship within 1-3 business days from a Canadian warehouse; built-to-order instruments carry manufacturer lead times that we confirm on every quote.
Tell us what you need to measure
Send us the crop, the soil and the decision you are trying to make. We will tell you which sensor answers it, and which one you do not need.
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