North America Soil Moisture Sensor Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Type (Water Potential Sensor, Volumetric Moisture Sensor), By Application (Agriculture, Construction, Sports, Research, Weather Forecasting, Landscape and Residential Care, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2025 To 2030

Description

The North American soil moisture sensor market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.02% between 2025 and 2030.

North America Soil Moisture Sensor Market Key Highlights:

• Escalating Climate Risk and Flash Drought Adoption: In late 2024, record-breaking drought coverage across 45.3% of the contiguous United States catalyzed a decisive shift toward high-frequency monitoring. This has directly increased demand for sensors capable of detecting "flash droughts," as agricultural end-users seek early warning indicators to adjust supplemental irrigation schedules before critical crop stress occurs.
• Technological Pivot to Plant-Direct Sensing: The 2024 launch and subsequent industry recognition of products like the Toro Transpira indicate a move beyond traditional soil-only measurement. By integrating direct plant water consumption data with soil moisture metrics, manufacturers are addressing the demand for higher-fidelity irrigation triggers in high-value specialty crops.
• Federal Subsidy Influence on Smart Technology: Under the USDA’s 2024-2025 Conservation Technical Assistance programs, the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) completed over 41,000 technical soil service instances. These federal initiatives, alongside Canada’s $250-million Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program, provide direct financial incentives that lower the adoption barrier for smart, wireless volumetric moisture probes.
• Transition to Standardized Digital Integration: The industry is moving away from proprietary, siloed data loggers toward interoperable platforms. The introduction of tools like the Spectrum FieldScout Soil Moisture Audit in 2024, which fuses TDR meter data with existing web-based mapping, demonstrates a response to end-user demand for data visualization that integrates seamlessly with broad-acre precision agriculture systems.

The North American soil moisture sensor market represents a critical segment of the global precision agriculture and environmental monitoring ecosystem. Defined by a high degree of technological maturity, the region is characterized by the rapid transition from manual tensiometers to advanced, automated volumetric sensing networks. This market serves as a primary laboratory for the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) in resource management, where data points from individual probes are synthesized into prescriptive irrigation models.

In the current economic and environmental climate, the market is primarily dictated by the dual imperatives of resource scarcity and regulatory compliance. As water rights in the Western United States and parts of Mexico face increasing legal and physical constraints, the ability to verify precise water application has transformed from an operational efficiency into a legal necessity. Consequently, soil moisture sensors are no longer viewed as optional agronomic tools but as foundational infrastructure for ensuring the long-term viability of agricultural, construction, and municipal landscaping operations across the continent.

North America Soil Moisture Sensor Market Analysis:

Growth Drivers

The primary growth driver is the intensifying volatility of precipitation patterns, particularly the emergence of rapid-onset flash droughts across the Midwest and Southern Plains. This environmental pressure forces agricultural operators to adopt real-time monitoring to safeguard high-capital crop investments. Furthermore, government-led sustainability mandates, such as the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, provide significant cost-shared funding that directly facilitates the procurement of precision tools. The decline in arable land across the United States, compels growers to maximize yield per acre through precision irrigation, thereby increasing the reliance on soil moisture data to prevent nutrient leaching and optimize water-use efficiency.

Challenges and Opportunities

High initial capital expenditure and technical complexity remain significant obstacles to adoption, particularly for small-to-medium-scale farming operations that lack in-house data analytics expertise. This creates a market "headwind" where potential users are deterred by the total cost of ownership, including sensor maintenance and calibration. However, these challenges present a major opportunity for the "Sensors-as-a-Service" (SaaS) model, where manufacturers provide hardware alongside cloud-based intelligence, shifting the burden of data interpretation away from the end-user. Additionally, the expansion of the construction and civil engineering sectors offers a burgeoning opportunity for moisture monitoring in foundation stability and wetland detection, diversifying the demand base beyond traditional agriculture.

Raw Material and Pricing Analysis

The pricing of soil moisture sensors is heavily influenced by the cost of corrosion-resistant electronic components and high-grade stainless steel used for probe rods. In 2025, the supply chain for high-frequency oscillators and microprocessors has stabilized, though it remains sensitive to regional trade policies and tariffs. The shift toward wireless telemetry has introduced additional costs related to cellular modules and long-life lithium batteries. Pricing dynamics are also dictated by the durability of the sensors; premium models like the METER TEROS line, which utilize specialized epoxy fills for a 10-year field lifespan, command higher price points but offer lower long-term replacement costs. Market pricing is currently bifurcated between low-cost residential sensors and high-precision, research-grade instruments.

Supply Chain Analysis

The North American supply chain is concentrated in advanced manufacturing clusters in California, Utah, and Washington, where proximity to tech-centered R&D facilitates rapid prototyping. Logistical complexities often arise from the need for soil-specific calibration, requiring manufacturers to source diverse soil media for testing. Key dependencies include the importation of specialized electronic chipsets from Asia, which can be a point of vulnerability during global trade disruptions. To mitigate this, major players like Campbell Scientific and Irrometer have increasingly focused on vertical integration, maintaining significant domestic assembly and calibration facilities. The supply chain is also adapting to the rise of direct-to-farm logistics, bypassing traditional retail to provide specialized support and installation services directly to large-scale agribusinesses.

Government Regulations

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In-Depth Segment Analysis

By Type: Volumetric Moisture Sensors

Volumetric moisture sensors, particularly those utilizing capacitance and Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR), represent the dominant technological segment in North America. These sensors measure the volume of water per unit volume of soil, providing an absolute value that is critical for automated irrigation systems. Driven by their suitability for integration with IoT platforms, digital outputs like SDI-12 allow these sensors to communicate directly with smart data loggers and cloud-based ZENTRA or IRROcloud systems. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in demand for profile probes, such as the Campbell Scientific SoilVue 10, which measures moisture at multiple depths from a single borehole. This technology is particularly favored in research and high-standard farmland because it reduces site disturbance while providing a comprehensive view of the root zone’s water status, allowing for more precise deep-drainage monitoring.

By Application: Landscape and Residential Care

The landscape and residential care segment is experiencing rapid growth due to increasing municipal water restrictions and the rise of smart home technology. Homeowners and commercial property managers are increasingly adopting wireless, non-intrusive sensors like the Toro Precision Soil Sensor to automate lawns and gardens. The "plug-and-play" nature of these devices, which require no digging for installation and feature automatic soil-type detection, propels this demand. This segment prioritizes ease of use and aesthetic integration over the research-grade precision required by agronomists. Furthermore, the integration of freeze detection, a feature unique to this segment, drives seasonal demand in the Northern United States and Canada, as managers seek to prevent irrigation-related pipe bursts. The proliferation of retail partnerships, such as Toro’s 2024 expansion into Lowe’s stores, has significantly increased the accessibility of these sensors to the consumer market.

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Geographical Analysis

• USA Market Analysis
  The United States is the primary hub for the North American market, characterized by advanced precision agriculture adoption and a high concentration of market leaders. Demand is geographically focused in the Western states (California, Arizona) due to persistent water scarcity, and the Midwest (Ohio, Nebraska) where large-scale corn and soy production necessitates efficient irrigation. The market is increasingly influenced by data-centric farming, where sensor readings are integrated into larger "autonomous tillage" and "precision spraying" systems showcased at major 2025 trade events like Agritechnica and the Big IRON Show.
• Canada Market Analysis
  In Canada, the market is heavily shaped by federal and provincial environmental programs aimed at climate resilience. Demand is strongest in the Prairie provinces (Saskatchewan, Alberta) for broad-acre crops and in Ontario for greenhouse horticulture. The 2024-2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada highlights a move toward a "digital transformation" of the sector, which includes funding for 223 projects focused on agro-ecosystem resiliency. Canadian end-users prioritize durability and cold-weather performance, leading to high demand for sensors that can withstand sub-zero soil temperatures and long-duration freeze-thaw cycles.
• Mexico Market Analysis
  Mexico represents a high-growth market, driven by the modernization of its export-oriented fruit and vegetable sectors. Large agribusinesses in regions like Sinaloa and Michoacán are adopting specialty sensors to meet the strict sustainability and water-use standards required by North American trade partners. While the market for high-end TDR sensors is growing among large exporters, there is a parallel demand for affordable, low-maintenance sensors like the Irrometer WATERMARK for smaller operations. Recent energy sector reforms have also encouraged the use of sensors in conjunction with distributed renewable energy systems, facilitating irrigation in remote areas without grid access.

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Competitive Environment and Analysis

The competitive landscape is defined by a transition toward holistic data ecosystems, where the sensor is merely the entry point for a wider analytics platform.

The Toro Company
Toro maintains a powerful position through its integration of soil sensing with established irrigation hardware. Their strategic focus is on the seamless automation of the irrigation loop. With the 2024 launch of the Transpira system, Toro has pioneered "direct-to-plant" sensing, a strategy that addresses the limitations of soil-only data. By combining soil moisture, plant water consumption, and ambient temperature, Toro provides a comprehensive "Precision Irrigation" suite. Their competitive advantage lies in their extensive distribution network and the ability to bundle sensors with their widely used Lynx and Tempus Ag irrigation controllers, appealing to both high-end commercial golf courses and large-scale agricultural operations.

METER Group, Inc. USA
METER Group distinguishes itself through high-precision, research-grade instrumentation and a "plug-and-play" digital ecosystem. Their TEROS line of capacitance sensors is the industry standard for durability, featuring a patented 10-year field lifespan. METER’s strategic focus is on minimizing installation error through specialized tools like the TEROS Borehole Installation Tool, which ensures sensors are placed perfectly perpendicular to the soil wall. Their ZENTRA Cloud platform provides near-real-time data visualization, addressing the end-user's demand for actionable insights rather than raw data. This positioning makes them the preferred choice for environmental researchers and tech-forward agronomists who prioritize long-term data consistency.

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Recent Market Developments

• 2025: METER Group announced the SOLYX 14, utilizing patented Complex Dielectric through intersection (CDX) technology. This development allows for more accurate volumetric water content and electrical conductivity measurements across a broader range of soil salinities and temperatures.
• April 2025: IRROMETER was awarded the DIGI 2025 Green Tech Award for its IC-10 Sensor Monitor. This recognition highlights the company's commitment to affordable, reliable agricultural soil monitoring and its integration with modern wireless cloud platforms like IRROcloud.
• January 2024: The Irrigation Association awarded Toro’s Transpira the 2023 New Product of the Year in the Agriculture Irrigation category. Developed with Treetoscope Ltd., the product enables farmers to optimize water usage via direct plant sensing.

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North America Soil Moisture Sensor Market Segmentation:

• By Type
  • Water Potential Sensor
  • Volumetric Moisture Sensor
• By Application
  • Agriculture
  • Construction
  • Sports
  • Research
  • Weather Forecasting
  • Landscape and Residential Care
  • Others
• By Geography
  • USA
  • Canada
  • Mexico

Table Of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1. Market Overview

1.2. Covid-19 Scenario

1.3. Market Definition

1.4. Market Segmentation

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Research Data

2.2. Assumptions

3. Executive Summary

3.1. Research Highlights

4. Market Dynamics

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis

4.3.1. Bargaining Power of End-Users

4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.3.3. Threat of New Entrants

4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry

4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis

5. North America Soil Moisture Sensor Market Analysis, by Type

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Water Potential Sensor

5.3. Volumetric Moisture Sensor

6. North America Soil Moisture Sensor Market Analysis, by Application

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Agriculture

6.3. Construction

6.4. Sports

6.5. Research

6.6. Weather Forecasting

6.7. Landscape and Residential Care

6.8. Others

7. North America Soil Moisture Sensor Market Analysis, by Geography

7.1. Introduction

7.2. USA

7.3. Canada

7.4. Mexico

8. Competitive Environment and Analysis

8.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

8.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

8.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

8.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix

9. Company Profiles

9.1. The Toro Company

9.2. Irrometer Company, Inc.

9.3. Acclima, Inc.

9.4. Spectrum Technologies, Inc.

9.5. Eijkelkamp Soil & Water

9.6. Campbell Scientific, Inc.

9.7. Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.

9.8. METER Group, Inc. USA

List of Figures

List of Tables

Companies Profiled

The Toro Company

Irrometer Company, Inc.

Acclima, Inc.

Spectrum Technologies, Inc.

Eijkelkamp Soil & Water

Campbell Scientific, Inc.

Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.

METER Group, Inc. USA

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