Irrigation decision support systems (IDSS) are integrated solutions that combine and interpret real-time meteorological, soil moisture and crop water stress data to help growers make more efficient irrigation decisions.
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FarmX Aquacheck
The Aquacheck probe is capable of measuring capacitance based soil moisture and soil temperature.
Hub Highlights:
Installation is done by FarmX. Equipment is "rented" for the duration of the season.
Without built-in telemetry, the Aquacheck probe relies on FarmX equipment (repeater) to transmit data to the cloud.
FarmX also offers irrigation management and aerial imaging services.
$5650/year for base station, 3 radio nodes, 3 soil moisture sensors, 3 water pressure sensors, hardware, installation, and annual maintenance support (from a 2-year maintenance term).
Last Edited on: December 2025
Manufacturer
FarmX
Product Name
Soil Moisture
Data Resolution
Hourly reporting
Canopy/Field Coverage
Dependent on the crop, topography, and goals of the farmer. The standard recommendation is one device per management zone.
Type of Telemetry
Minimum 4G
Sensor Height/depth
8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48 inches depth.
Soil Based
Yes, capacitance based VWC + temp. AquaCheck SDI-12 probes (Third party integration)
Last Edited on: December 2025
Sample Size
3
Intersensor Variaibility
20.1±14.0%
Correlation with Research Grade Instrumentation
0.75
Annual operating power of sensor - 30 acre farm (kWh/ha)
Self-contained solar
Annual operating power of sensor - 300 acre farm (kWh/ha)
Self-contained solar
Annual operating power of sensor - 3000 acre farm (kWh/ha)
Self-contained solar
Potential energy savings from reduced irrigation water pumping due to more accurate water consumption usage data
17%
Calculated potential energy savings by water source: Surface water (kWh/ha)
15
Calculated potential energy savings by water source: Shallow groundwater - 8 m well (kWh/ha)
62
Calculated potential energy savings by water source: Deep groundwater - 50 m well (kWh/ha)
268
COMET estimate of power savings (kWh/ha)
20.1
DNDC model N2O emission reductions (kg N/ha/yr)
0.2
DNDC model CH4 emission reductions (kg C/ha/yr)
No appreciable differences based on model
Last Edited on: December 2025
Data Collection
Product evaluators at the UC Davis California Lighting Technology Center identified and assessed system characteristics related to user experience.
Sample Size
3
Usability and performance
How does the IDSS appear in the grower's field and how often can/should the user interface with the IDSS?
The Aquacheck probe is installed belowground by FarmX with a small cap visible at the surface and its installation depth has flexibility (we evaluated 48"). Users can access probe outputs instantaneously via smartphone apps and should monitor at the scale of Irrigation scheduling (daily-weekly)
Installation
How long does installation take and who does installation?
The company installs the sensors and coordinates with the grower on the best day/time for sensor installation. Installation takes a couple of hours.
Installation/Removal
Can this remain in place around planting, harvest activities?
In annual crops like processing tomato, installation and removal occur around planting and harvest processes. In perennial crops like almond or pistachio, the Aquacheck can remain in row and can be helpful also during the winter months to observe the soil moisture profile filling with winter precipitation.
Maintenance
What types of in-season maintenance are required?
Minimal maintenance is required, but because the probes are buried, very clear signage is needed in annual systems to ensure that they do not get damaged. Firmware updates can be made through the app.
