The MPKit records the volumetric soil moisture content, and optionally the location (using the phone’s GPS), for later analysis. The data is stored in a CSV file for easy analysis, with latitude, longitude, time & date recorded alongside volumetric soil moisture measurement.

About the components in the MPKit

• Sensor: The MPKit is available with either the MP406 or the MP306 sensor. The MP406 is ideal for use in moisture sampling when there is a harder surface to break through, or into drier ground in a vertical plane. The MP306 with 3 needles is suited for measurement in a soil column, a cross section within a trench or pit, as the three needle allow for positioning into a smaller area than that of the MP406.
• Sensor Interface: The MP406 or MP306 is connected directly to the interface box that sends the signal from the sensor to the phone via BlueTooth, with the interface box attached to the handle. The Bluetooth unit will pair with an Android device with the ICT International MPKit app installed. Supplied with 3x internal AAA batteries (user replaceable), the Bluetooth unit does not require charging.
• Handle and Extension bar: The MPKit includes a robust screw on 2-piece handle that allows for easy insertion into soil or other media; the T-piece can be screwed directly to the MP306 or MP406 when space is restricted, whilst the extension piece allows for easy use when taking multiple samples without bending to the ground level to take those samples. Alternatively, the sensor can be lowered into an augered hole and securely pushed into the soil at the bottom of the hole (approximately 850mm down, leaving space to access the T-handle)
• Phone: An Android phone is included in the MPKit; the phone will come with the app pre-installed and ready to use.
• Application: Within the app, it is a simple process to take a measurement; name the sample site and then take the measurement. This data will then be recorded in a CSV file which can be imported onto your computer for further analysis. Data can be visualised on a variety of software packages; for example, the data can be imported into ArcGIS, QGIS, or Google Earth as it has the required spatial data. The app does not require an active SIM card to operate, only requiring Bluetooth and Location Services (GPS) to be enabled.

More details on the MP406 and MP306 can be found on this page that details the sensors.

The MPKit has been used in many applications since the initial development of the MPKit:

• Commercial applications include irrigation monitoring of sports fields, agriculture, moisture control of concrete batch mixes or materials testing.
• Research applications are wide and varied, from frog ecology to soil carbon testing.

The research applications using the MPKit are available here,