Introduction

Soil pH directly affects nutrient availability, crop growth and soil amendment requirements.

Manual sampling provides useful results but may not reveal changes across locations or over time.

The Dragino SPH01-LB supports continuous soil pH and temperature monitoring through LoRaWAN® connectivity.

What This Guide Covers

• Selecting a representative monitoring location
• Installing the soil pH probe correctly
• Calibrating and maintaining the sensor
• Using collected data for farm decisions

Correct installation and maintenance are essential for reliable long-term monitoring.

Why Continuous Soil pH Monitoring Matters

Soil that is too acidic or alkaline can limit nutrient uptake even when fertilizers are available.

Continuous monitoring helps farmers identify trends and compare conditions across plots or root zones.

It also supports timely soil management without depending only on occasional sampling.

Decisions Supported by Soil pH Data

• Selecting crops for local soil conditions
• Planning lime and soil amendments
• Comparing treated and untreated plots
• Reviewing changes after irrigation
• Supporting agricultural research

Sensor data should complement periodic laboratory testing and agronomic advice.

Dragino SPH01-LB Features

The Dragino SPH01-LB measures soil pH and temperature and sends readings to a LoRaWAN® network.

It is designed for remote agriculture, greenhouse and research applications.

Core Device Capabilities

• LoRaWAN® Class A communication
• Soil pH measurement
• Soil temperature monitoring
• Battery-level reporting
• End-user calibration support

The device also supports BLE configuration and remote parameter management.

Choosing the Right Installation Location

Select a Representative Area

Choose a location that reflects the crop, soil type, irrigation pattern and field conditions being monitored.

Avoid unusual low spots, recently amended areas or locations near compost unless they are the intended monitoring targets.

Before Installing the Sensor

• Confirm LoRaWAN® gateway coverage
• Identify the required root-zone depth
• Remove stones and hard materials
• Ensure firm soil-to-probe contact
• Record the sensor location

Use multiple monitoring points where soil conditions vary significantly.

Installing the SPH01-LB Probe

Reliable readings depend on proper contact between the probe and the surrounding soil.

Moisten dry soil with pure water or rainwater when required and remove materials that may damage the probe.

Insert the probe slowly without striking, twisting or forcing it into hard soil.

Recommended Installation Steps

• Connect the device to the LoRaWAN® network
• Prepare the soil at the selected depth
• Insert the probe carefully
• Pack soil firmly around the probe
• Confirm stable pH and temperature readings

Allow the readings to stabilize before using them as a field baseline.

Calibration and Maintenance

Follow the manufacturer’s calibration procedure instead of using a generic laboratory-electrode method.

The SPH01-LB supports calibration using specified pH buffer solutions and configuration commands.

A probe unused for an extended period may require reactivation before dependable readings are obtained.

Protecting the Soil pH Probe

• Keep the reference electrode moist
• Avoid impact and excessive force
• Prevent contact with oily substances
• Check cables and mounting regularly
• Monitor battery and signal status

Use only the cleaning and storage methods recommended in the current device manual.

Using Soil pH Data in Agriculture

Cloud dashboards convert individual sensor readings into trends across time, plots and crop stages.

Users can review soil pH, temperature, battery level and communication status remotely.

Alerts can highlight readings outside crop-specific or project-defined thresholds.

Practical Applications

• Compare soil conditions across plots
• Review changes after amendments
• Identify areas requiring soil sampling
• Support greenhouse and field trials
• Maintain long-term soil records

Decisions should consider sensor trends, crop requirements and professional agronomic guidance.

Best Practices for Reliable Monitoring

The Dragino SPH01-LB delivers the best value when installation, calibration and network planning are managed together.

Good soil contact reduces unstable or unrepresentative readings.

LoRaWAN® reduces manual data collection but does not eliminate field inspections or reference testing.

Key Recommendations

• Select representative monitoring points
• Verify gateway coverage before deployment
• Review trends instead of isolated readings
• Maintain the probe as recommended
• Validate data with periodic soil testing

A structured monitoring process supports dependable soil insights and smarter agricultural decisions.