Design and Analysis of Microstrip Moisture Sensor for the Determination of Moisture Content in Soil

Objectives: To design new multiband antennas based on slotted rectangular patch antenna moisture sensor with comparative results to each other. The moisture sensors is compact size, easy design, low cost and have high quality responses which can be applied for determination of soil moisture measurement. A frequency reconfigurable antenna is presented with operating frequency between 2GHz to 5GHz. Methods/Statistical Analysis: A reconfigurable microstrip patch sensor is designed by using a slotted rectangular patch antenna for determination of soil moisture measurement. The length and width of the ground and patch is 30mm and 25mm as well as three slotted on the patch for accuracy. It is designed on FR-4 substrate with a relative dielectric constant 4.4 and thickness 1.6mm which is simulated by CST software as well as gets the magnitude and phase of modified design. Findings: The proposed antenna exhibits multi-frequency behavior. The modified antenna is capable for measuring the moisture between 2GHz to 5GHz. At these frequencies slotted rectangular patch antenna moisture sensor produces return loss 25dBi and capable for measure the moisture in soil with accuracy. When the resonant frequency is decreased with increase the moisture level. It will be designed for measuring the accuracy with a less time as well as triple resonant frequencies. The moisture content can be minimum and maximum at different frequencies and that can be considered for the better implementation of the approach by using the vector network analyzer. Applications/Improvements: In this paper a compact frequency reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna as a moisture sensor is presented with good return loss as well as resonant frequency for measuring the moisture in soil with accuracy as compare with the conventional one.