DODO SOIL
8-in-1 Soil Multi-Parameter Sensor
Moisture · Temperature · EC · pH · N · P · K · Salinity
- 8 parameters, one probe
- RS-485 Modbus-RTU
- IP68, direct burial
- DC 5-24 V
- 4 × φ3 mm 316L needles
- 5 m cable, GX12 fitted
Works with DODO LOGGER, the DODOTiK Platform and the DODOLINK app — see how.
Overview
DODO SOIL (DOT-SMPS-V2) is a single buried probe that reports eight soil parameters over one RS-485 Modbus-RTU connection: volumetric moisture, temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and salinity.
One cable, one Modbus address, eight values - so a complete agronomic picture of a plot costs one sensor slot instead of eight. The head carries four φ3 mm needles on an 11 mm pitch, machined from 316L stainless steel, and the body is potted to IP68, so the unit can be buried and left in the ground season after season.
DODO SOIL is the companion soil sensor for the DODO LOGGER. It appears in the logger's no-code sensor library, so it is selected from the web interface and starts reporting with no firmware reflash and no wiring changes beyond plugging the connector in.
Key features
- Eight parameters, one probe - moisture, temperature, EC, pH, N, P, K, salinity
- One Modbus transaction - all eight values read from eight consecutive registers
- Fast - stable 3 s after power-on, under 1 s response
- Buried-rated - IP68 potting, 316L stainless needles, direct soil contact
- Wide supply - DC 5-24 V, so it runs from the logger's sensor socket directly
- Standard protocol - RS-485 Modbus-RTU, 9600 8N1; no proprietary driver needed
- Field-addressable - slave address changed over the bus, including by broadcast
Measured parameters
| Parameter | Unit | Range | Accuracy | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soil moisture (volumetric) | % m³/m³ | 0-100 % | ±2 % m³/m³ (over 0-50 %) | 0.1 % |
| Soil temperature | °C | −30 … +70 °C | ±0.2 °C | 0.1 °C |
| Electrical conductivity (EC) | µS/cm | 0-20 000 µS/cm (default) | ±2 % | 1 µS/cm |
| Salinity | µS/cm | 0-20 000 µS/cm (default) | ±2 % | 1 µS/cm |
| Nitrogen (N) | mg/kg | 0-1999 mg/kg | ±3 % | 1 mg/kg |
| Phosphorus (P) | mg/kg | 0-1999 mg/kg | ±3 % | 1 mg/kg |
| Potassium (K) | mg/kg | 0-1999 mg/kg | ±3 % | 1 mg/kg |
| pH | pH | 3-10 pH | ±1 pH | 0.01 pH |
Technical specifications
Measurement
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Parameters measured | 8 - moisture, temperature, EC, pH, N, P, K, salinity |
| Stabilisation time | 3 seconds after power-on |
| Response time | < 1 second |
| Measurement method | FDR (moisture) · PT1000 (temperature) · electrode (EC, salinity) |
| Custom ranges | Temperature and moisture ranges customisable at order |
Electrical
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Supply voltage | DC 5-24 V |
| Output | RS-485, Modbus-RTU |
| Baud rate | 9600 |
| Frame format | 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity (8N1) |
| Default slave address | 0x01 |
| Addressing | Field-changeable over the bus; broadcast address 0xFE supported |
| Cable | 4-core, 5 m (standard), GX12 4-pin female connector fitted; other lengths on request |
Mechanical & environmental
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Probes | 4 × φ3 mm stainless steel needles, 55 mm long |
| Probe pitch | 11 mm centre to centre · 33 mm across the outer pair |
| Probe material | 316L stainless steel |
| Body dimensions (L × W × H) | 71 × 45 × 16 mm |
| Housing material | ABS engineering plastic, epoxy-resin potted |
| Ingress protection | IP68 - suitable for direct burial |
| Installation | Surface or buried |
| Working environment | 0 … +50 °C |
Plug DS-8 into DODO LOGGER and it is already on your phone
No firmware reflash, no driver to write, no backend deployment. The logger self-describes its schema to the platform, so a new sensor appears in the dashboard and in the app on its own.
1 · Plug in
The fitted GX12 4-pin connector screws onto the logger's Modbus RS-485 socket. No stripping, no terminal block, no tools. Up to four sensors per logger.
2 · Select it
DS-8 is in the logger's no-code sensor library. Pick it in the web interface, assign a slot, and it starts logging.
3 · Logged locally
Every reading to microSD, always on, offline included. CSV download straight off the card.
4 · Live in the cloud
MQTT/TLS to the DODOTiK Platform — live dashboards, full history, alert thresholds, device management.
5 · On a phone
The same readings and alerts in DODOLINK for iOS and Android, for whoever is out in the field rather than at a desk.
Nothing here is lock-in. DS-8 is a standard Modbus-RTU device on a standard RS-485 bus. The DODO LOGGER, the platform and the app are the fastest route from probe to dashboard, not the only one — the full register map is published below and in the datasheet, and the sensor can be ordered with bare leads for a PLC, DCS, SCADA or paperless recorder.
Dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Body length | 71 mm |
| Body width | 45 mm |
| Body thickness | 16 mm |
| Probe length | 55 mm |
| Probe diameter | φ3 mm |
| Probe count | 4 |
| Probe pitch | 11 mm |
| Probe array span | 33 mm |
| Cable length | 5 m (standard) |
Wiring — GX12 4-pin connector
The cable is terminated in a GX12 4-pin female aviation connector, fitted as standard. It screws directly onto the DODO LOGGER Modbus RS-485 socket. For a third-party logger or a terminal block, order the bare-lead variant rather than cutting the connector off at the sensor's gland — the gland is part of the IP68 seal.
| Pin | Signal | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VCC | Power + (DC 5-24 V) |
| 2 | GND | Ground |
| 3 | A (D+) | RS-485 A |
| 4 | B (D−) | RS-485 B |
Modbus RTU register map
RS-485 Modbus-RTU, 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. Default slave address 0x01. Published in full so the sensor can be read by any Modbus master — PLC, DCS, SCADA or a paperless recorder.
| Register | Value | Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0x0000 | Soil temperature | Read | ÷ 10, °C - signed (two's complement) |
| 0x0001 | Soil moisture | Read | ÷ 10, % |
| 0x0002 | Electrical conductivity | Read | ×1, µS/cm |
| 0x0003 | Salinity | Read | ×1, µS/cm |
| 0x0004 | Nitrogen (N) | Read | ×1, mg/kg |
| 0x0005 | Phosphorus (P) | Read | ×1, mg/kg |
| 0x0006 | Potassium (K) | Read | ×1, mg/kg |
| 0x0007 | pH | Read | ÷ 100, pH |
| 0x0030 | Device address | Write | Function code 0x06; default 0x01 |
Applications
Water-saving irrigation - moisture-triggered and fertigation control
Greenhouses - flowers, vegetables, substrate and bed monitoring
Precision agriculture - NPK mapping, variable-rate fertiliser planning
Grassland and pasture management - fertility and salinity tracking
Environmental and meteorological monitoring - soil stations, research networks
Plant cultivation and scientific trials - replicated plots, rapid soil testing
Before you specify it
Limits worth knowing before the order goes in, rather than after the sensor is in the ground.
- Resolution is 0.01 pH but accuracy is ±1 pH - good for trends across a plot or a season, not a substitute for a laboratory pH determination.
- The temperature element is specified −30 to +70 °C, but the electronics are rated for a 0-50 °C working environment.
- EC/salinity range and cable length are factory-set and must be specified at order; neither can be changed in the field.
Ordering information
| Order code | Description |
|---|---|
| DS-8 | DODO SOIL 8-in-1 sensor (DOT-SMPS-V2), RS-485 Modbus-RTU, EC/salinity 0-20 000 µS/cm, 5 m cable with GX12 connector |
| DS-8-EC10K | As DS-8, EC/salinity range 0-10 000 µS/cm |
| DS-8-EC2K | As DS-8, EC/salinity range 0-2000 µS/cm |
| DS-8-L2 | As DS-8, 2 m cable |
| DS-8-L10 | As DS-8, 10 m cable |
What's in the box
- DODO SOIL DOT-SMPS-V2 sensor with 5 m 4-core cable, GX12 4-pin female connector fitted
Quality and warranty
- IP68 sealed - rated for direct burial
- 316L stainless steel needles - no corrosion in soil contact
- Warranty: 1 year
Handling and maintenance
- Push the probe in by the body, never by levering on the needles; they are 3 mm and will bend against stones. In compacted or stony ground, pilot the holes first.
- Do not strike the head with a hammer or mallet.
- Clean the needles with water and a soft cloth after lifting. Do not abrade them - the 316L surface is the measuring electrode for EC and salinity.
- The cable gland is part of the IP68 seal. Do not cut, re-terminate or extend the cable at the gland; extend it at a sealed junction further down the run.
- Keep the GX12 connector out of standing water - it is a dry-side connector, not part of the IP68 rating.
Frequently asked questions
Does DODO SOIL work with a PLC, SCADA or a third-party data logger?
Yes. DS-8 is a standard RS-485 Modbus-RTU device at 9600 baud, 8N1, so any Modbus master can read it - PLC, DCS, SCADA or a paperless recorder. The full register map is published in the datasheet, and the sensor can be ordered with bare leads instead of the GX12 connector for terminal-block wiring. There is no proprietary driver and no lock-in.
What is the default Modbus address of DS-8?
0x01. The address is changeable in the field over the bus, so several sensors can share one RS-485 pair as long as each has a unique address.
How do I connect DODO SOIL to DODO LOGGER?
Screw the fitted GX12 4-pin connector onto the logger's Modbus RS-485 socket - no stripping, no terminal block, no tools. DS-8 is in the logger's no-code sensor library, so an installer selects it in the web interface and it begins logging to microSD and publishing to the DODOTiK Platform and the DODOLINK app. No firmware reflash, no backend change.
What does DS-8 measure, and how accurately?
Soil moisture (volumetric): 0-100 %, accuracy ±2 % m³/m³ (over 0-50 %); Soil temperature: −30 … +70 °C, accuracy ±0.2 °C; Electrical conductivity (EC): 0-20 000 µS/cm (default), accuracy ±2 %; Salinity: 0-20 000 µS/cm (default), accuracy ±2 %; Nitrogen (N): 0-1999 mg/kg, accuracy ±3 %; Phosphorus (P): 0-1999 mg/kg, accuracy ±3 %; Potassium (K): 0-1999 mg/kg, accuracy ±3 %; pH: 3-10 pH, accuracy ±1 pH.
How do I order DS-8, and what does it cost?
DS-8 is sold direct and through distributors. Pricing depends on configuration and quantity, so request a quote with the order code and the quantity you need and DODOTiK will come back with export pricing and volume tiers. Available configurations: DS-8; DS-8-EC10K; DS-8-EC2K; DS-8-L2; DS-8-L10.
Is there anything to watch out for when specifying DS-8?
Resolution is 0.01 pH but accuracy is ±1 pH - good for trends across a plot or a season, not a substitute for a laboratory pH determination. The temperature element is specified −30 to +70 °C, but the electronics are rated for a 0-50 °C working environment. EC/salinity range and cable length are factory-set and must be specified at order; neither can be changed in the field.
Request a quote for DS-8
Sold direct and through distributors. Tell us the order code, the quantity and the destination country and we will come back with export pricing, volume tiers and lead time.