Soil Scout Sensor 7

SENSOR 

GAIN A DEEPER VIEW OF SOIL SCOUT 

The 

Soil Scout 

Story 

Issue 07 | Summer 2023 

In pursuit of 

excellence 

Stuart Langhorn 

Keeping up with 

the Crew 

Andrew Northeim 

PLUS 

INSIDE: The CEO of Soil discusses golf course irrigation practices | Special feature with 

independent researcher in turf grass Dr John Dempsey | Meet the underground soil data family

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CEO OF SOIL 

Greener golf: The transition to 

responsible water management 

is a hole-in-one for golf's future 

Soil Scout CEO Jalmari Talola discusses why golf courses should now more than 

ever prioritise and further optimise their irrigation practices. 

Golf, often considered a leisurely pursuit, is 

more connected to the environment than 

one might think. Across the globe, lush golf 

courses, with their meticulously manicured 

greens and fairways, are a common sight. 

However, the environmental impact of these sprawling 

landscapes cannot be ignored. In this editorial, we delve into 

why golf courses should prioritise and further optimise their 

irrigation practices. 

Preserving precious resources 

Water is an invaluable resource, and its scarcity is a growing 

concern. Golf courses are notorious water consumers, often 

using vast amounts to maintain their pristine appearance. 

In a world where water shortages are increasingly common, 

it's imperative for golf courses to optimise their irrigation 

methods. By doing so, they can reduce their ecological 

footprint and contribute to water conservation efforts. 

Sustainability is par for the course 

The modern world demands sustainability in every 

aspect of life, including recreation. Golf courses are no 

exception. Embracing sustainable irrigation practices not 

only aligns with environmental ethics but also enhances 

a golf course's reputation. Eco-friendly golf courses are 

attractive to environmentally-conscious players, members, 

and communities, making them stand out in a competitive 

industry. 

Financial sense 

Optimising irrigation isn't just about environmental 

responsibility; it's also about fiscal prudence. Excessive water 

usage drives up maintenance costs, including water bills 

and energy expenses. By implementing advanced irrigation 

technologies such as soil moisture sensors, golf courses 

can precisely control water application, thereby reducing 

operational costs and increasing overall efficiency. 

Environmental stewardship 

Golf courses occupy substantial land areas, and 

the impact of their operations on local ecosystems 

can be significant. Excessive irrigation can lead to 

soil erosion, water pollution, and harm to nearby 

habitats. By adopting responsible irrigation 

practices, golf courses can mitigate these negative 

effects and even become hubs for biodiversity 

conservation. Vast number of courses have already 

adapted sustainable actions in their operations, 

and it is becoming the next big trend in the sport. 

Enhancing playability and aesthetics 

Optimising irrigation is not just about cutting 

back on water; it's also about improving the 

golfing experience. Properly irrigated courses 

offer consistent playing conditions, with firm 

and fast greens and fairways. This not only 

enhances the enjoyment of the game but also 

4 soilscout.com | @Soil_Scout | #GainADeeperView

CEO OF SOIL 

By implementing advanced irrigation technologies such as 

soil moisture sensors, golf courses can precisely control 

water application, thereby reducing operational costs 

and increasing overall efficiency 

Jalmari Talola 

reduces downtime for maintenance and 

course closures due to waterlogged 

conditions. 

Community and regulatory 

expectations 

Many communities and governments 

are enacting stricter regulations on 

water usage and environmental 

impact. Golf courses that 

pro actively optimise their 

irrigation systems demonstrate 

a commitment to compliance 

with these regulations 

and show respect for local 

ecosystems. This can lead to 

more favourable relationships 

with authorities and 

communities. 

The future of golf 

In a world facing environmental 

challenges, golf courses must adapt and 

evolve to remain relevant. Optimising irrigation isn't just 

a choice; it's a necessity for the industry's sustainability. 

By embracing efficient irrigation practices, golf courses 

can lead the way in demonstrating environmental 

responsibility while maintaining the beauty and quality 

of the game. The transition to responsible water 

management is a hole-in-one for the sport's future. 

In conclusion, optimising irrigation on golf courses 

is a win-win proposition. It conserves precious water 

resources, enhances sustainability, reduces operational 

costs, improves playability, and strengthens the 

industry's reputation. It's time for golf courses to tee up 

for a greener, more sustainable future. 

Contact Jalmari 

jalmari.talola@soilscout.com 

#GainADeeperView | @Soil_Scout | soilscout.com 5

INTERVIEW 

In pursuit of 

excellence 

There are many facets to 

the pursuit of excellence. 

Often it starts with the 

person themselves and 

then develops with the 

people who teach them. In the case of 

Beaconsfield Course Director Stuart 

Langhorn, it’s a healthy mix of both. 

Like many others in this industry, his love 

of sports led him to his current job. Playing 

football, rugby, cricket and running cross 

country at school is evidence of his passion 

for sport, but finishing his rugby career as 

a 40-year-old league winner cements it. 

His initial plan was to work as a Premier 

League groundsman, which led him to 

Myerscough College. Deciding to join his 

best friend, who was spending the summer 

at Wembley, Stuart went to the All England 

Tennis Club under Eddie Seaward in the 

pursuit of excellence. 

“We both wanted to work somewhere 

that was top of its game and to learn that 

excellence,” Stuart explained. “I spoke 

to a couple of guys who had been to 

Wimbledon the previous year, and they 

said Eddie Seaward was the guy to learn 

from. 

“I think it’s the attention to detail and 

the accuracy. It’s more than cutting grass, 

and there’s just no stone left unturned, and 

if you do turn a stone over somewhere like 

that, you turn it over a second time, a third 

time and a fourth time. You make sure 

you’ve tripled checked everything to make 

sure it’s right. 

“That’s something that I’ve always taken 

with me in every job, that bit of excellence. 

“From there, I planned to move into 

football, but I was still playing pretty 

competitive rugby, and that being on a 

Saturday meant I had to look for a different 

option. Someone suggested greenkeeping 

to me, and from there, I landed a job at 

Woburn on the new Marquis Course in 

1999.” 

Wimbledon gave Stuart meticulous 

attention to detail, but Woburn taught 

him greenkeeping. Arriving as a 20-yearold, 

Stuart had no experience, but 

his enthusiasm for learning and the 

environment he was working in took him 

forward and eventually to Burhill Golf Club 

and Leisure. 

“At Woburn, it was all about excellence 

and providing for the best players in 

Europe. We were a big venue for visitors 

paying a lot of money, and I’d really learnt 

Soil Scout has been the biggest 

thing that has revolutionised our 

approach to greenkeeping 


Words Blair Ferguson | Pictures James Baylis 


INTERVIEW 

STUART 

LANGHORN 

BEACONSFIELD GOLF CLUB, COURSE DIRECTOR 


INTERVIEW 

The sensors are one thing that 

reassures my decision-making 

processes and gives me that ability 

to justify the spend 


the greenkeeping side of the job. But, coming 

in at 20 years old, there are a lot of guys 

ahead of you for promotion at clubs like that. 

“So, after speaking to people within the 

industry, I went and joined Burhill Golf and 

Leisure as a Deputy Head Greenkeeper. 

Within a year, I quickly got promoted to 

Course Manager, and that was the learning 

curve I needed for the next six years. 

“Straight away, I was building and running 

budgets, ordering materials, stock sheets and 

running health and safety. The kind of things 

that I’m not sure everybody does in every 

golf club, but when you’re part of a group, 

they do take a bit of a punt on you, but they 

do ask you to do everything. 

“For me, it was amazing. It was a bit like 

an academy where you learnt everything. 

Aldwickbury Park was my course, and it was 

a private members club, but it was also a big 

visitor destination. And that’s where I learnt 

about having to be good 52 weeks a year. 

“At Woburn, we peaked for the 

tournaments. Whereas at a visitor venue 

that relies on repeat spending, if you give 

someone a bad experience, they won’t 

return. We really focused on that in the 

52 weeks; you can’t have an off day. I liked 

that because I liked the challenge, it was 

competitive, and they made it competitive 

throughout the group and from my sporting 

background, I really enjoyed it.” 

Coming to his peak at Burhill meant Stuart 

looked for a different challenge. Ultimately 

Beaconsfield was his opportunity to combine 

his ethos of providing European Tour quality 

with the repetitive attention to detail of a 52 

weeks a year visitor site. 

Benchmarking and self-auditing were 

his chosen methods, and the results speak 

for themselves ten years on. Initially, he 

encouraged his team to play golf and visit 

courses they aspired to be. Quickly, the 

quality of those courses increased until they 

were visiting clubs like The Berkshire, Woking, 

Swinley Forest and Sunningdale. 

Stuart explains: “Once a week, we make 

sure we walk out of the front door of the 

clubhouse and walk to the first tee how 

the golfer would, and not do the typical 

greenkeeper thing of coming through the 

woodland from the lefthand side. 

“That’s probably the biggest thing we do 

with our team, and that leads to the leaving 

no stone unturned. And the little things like 

making sure the tee blocks are pointing down 

the hole, making sure on a par three, if the 

pin is on the left of the green, the blocks are 

on the right of the tee, so there is a clear 

line of sight. That’s what I think it is. It’s that 

repetition, and it’s that constant auditing and 

benchmarking yourself.” 

As someone who appreciates detail, taking 

moisture readings is something Stuart did in 

the past, but with the common issues of the 

time it takes and the data arriving too late 

for morning hand watering. 

Another issue he had with manual 

methods is not knowing the trend. For 

Stuart, knowing whether the moisture 

level is trending up or down is crucial, and 

with the Soil Scouts, he can easily get this 

information. 

“We introduced PCD rope drainage into 

the greens six years ago, which has been 

great, and we’ve been moving forward 

with products, but since the rope Soil 

Scout has been the biggest thing that 

has revolutionised our approach to 

greenkeeping,” Stuart said. 

“Say our target is 20%, the team can come 

in, and it’s 21%, but for me, I don’t know what 


INTERVIEW 


INTERVIEW 

that means with hand probing. 

“We always worked on training and 

educating the guys on hot spots, and once 

they start going, teaching all the guys which 

areas need watering. So that’s how we 

worked without buying technology. 

“The minute the Soil Scout came, that 

ticked every box for me because it was realtime. 

What I could do, and this isn’t being 

over-obsessive with my job, I could have a 

quick look before I went to bed and then 

again when I wake up in the morning sat with 

a cup of tea. 

“And going back to before when I said our 

target could be 20%, and the guys come 

back, and it’s 21%. Well, I need to know where 

it was before it was 21%. So now, I can look in 

the morning, and they are 21%, but the night 

before, they were 28%; they’ve come down, 

and with the heat of the day coming, I know 

they are on a downward trend. 

“So, even though the 21% is technically 

correct, we’re in trouble that day, and we 

need to get on it. And vice versa, we could 

look at the greens and see some dry spots, 

but we can actually see the numbers are 

coming up from 16%, and it’s on an upward 

trend from the night before. 

“That’s where it’s changed it for me and 

made it a real benefit. And also, that’s a 

one-man job. All the team have it on their 

phones, so they know, and we don’t have 

to waste four or five hours with someone 

walking around with a stick. 

“It really changed our approach to 

irrigation this year in the hottest and driest 

year we’ve had. We moved our sensors 

around the course to our 18th green and put 

them in at two, four, six, and eight inches. 

That way, we felt like we were absolutely 

nailed on where the moisture was at every 

part of the profile. I slept a bit easier doing 

that. 

“Our visitor golfers were astounded by 

the condition of our course other than the 

greens, and I think that was because we 

were able to reduce the amount of water on 

the greens and use it elsewhere around the 

course. 

“I don’t know if we were lucky or what, 

but we chose a good year to start with the 

Scouts in 2022. It just gives you that piece 

of mind, and it also gives you that little bit 

in the morning just to give you a little pat on 


INTERVIEW 

the back with which way you’re going. 

“At the end of the day, your greens are 

everything. You can have the best fairways 

or tees, but the greens are the bread and 

butter of our industry, and if you’ve got good 

greens, you’re 99% of the way there.” 

Getting the best greens is more than 

irrigation, and using the sensors has helped 

Stuart refine the timing of applications. 

Everything is more expensive than it was four 

or five years ago, and the pressures of the 

job and golfer expectations have risen. 

This means getting the most from what 

he’s got and not applying products using predefined 

time frames. 

“It’s quite easy in my job to do something 

every two, three or four weeks. But actually, 

with Soil Scout, we know what the drying and 

wetting process looks like when our wetting 

agent is tailing off. So, we can put our next 

application on, which might be after 14 

days because it’s been that hot and there’s 

that much water going on; it’s washing the 

product through. 

“And vice versa, we might actually get a 

month out of the product. So it’s adding to 

our integrated pest management, although 

the drying out isn’t a pest, it is a pest for 

the turf because it is a problem. It’s allowing 

us to apply at the exact time the ground 

needs it rather than just sticking to the oldfashioned 

time frames. 

“The sensors are one thing that reassures 

my decision-making processes and gives me 

that ability to justify the spend. For example, 

we’re introducing a new bent seed from 

America that could be a bit more costly than 

the older variety. It is working, but one of 

the reasons it’s working is that our times of 

application are good because we’re using 

data to make the decisions. 

“I probably didn’t realise how much I’d 

use the data. There aren’t many things 

people worry about in summer as much as 

irrigation. It’s getting tougher every year. 

The pressure on the amount of water we’ve 

got, the windows we can do it, and the 

expectation of golfers are going up. 

“But our role is getting tougher with 

pressure from the climate and pressure from 

the economy and money that’s coming into 

the clubs. Anything that helps me is good, 

but this has been a real game changer.” 

Our role is getting tougher with pressure from the 

climate and pressure from the economy, anything 

that helps me is good, but Soil Scout has been a 

real game changer 



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INTERVIEW 

Keeping up with 

the Crew 

The Columbus Crew hold 

their own story in the 

history of Major League 

Soccer. As MLS’ first 

franchise, its evolution has 

mirrored the league’s, and on and off the 

field, it's been a case of keeping up with the 

Crew. 

Opening in 1999, Historic Crew Stadium 

was the United States' first purpose-built 

professional soccer arena, signalling the 

league's development. Many teams have 

followed in building their own soccerspecific 

stadium, but the Crew haven’t stood 

still. 

The possibility of relocation loomed 

over the franchise, but in 2019, Dee and 

Jimmy Haslam, Whitney and JW Johnson 

and long-time team physician Dr. Pete 

Edwards received operating rights of the 

club and made their intentions known with 

investment. 

In 2021, the 20,371 capacity Lower.com 

Field and the renovation of OhioHealth 

Performance Center (OHPC), connected to 

Historic Crew Stadium, ushered in a new era 

for the two-time MLS Cup winners. 

For nine years, Head Groundskeeper at 

OHPC, Andrew Northeim, has been part of 

the Crew’s journey and seen the transition 

to best-in-class facilities. When he joined in 

2014 after graduating from The Ohio State 

University with a Bachelor’s of Science, 

Andrew worked at both facilities and 

gained valuable knowledge before taking 

his current role in 2018. 

The development of OHPC was an 

opportunity to gain field construction 

experience and, with the positive backing 

of the new owners, embrace the best field 

technology the industry had to offer. 

"When we were initially brought in on the 

build and heard that SubAir and hydronic 

heating was included, it was a pretty big 

thing," Andrew explains. "Knowing that 

our ownership was willing to invest in the 

Soil Scout is awesome technology 

to have once you have it and 

know how reliable it is 


Words Blair Ferguson | Pictures Drew Horton © Columbus Crew 


INTERVIEW 

ANDREW 

NORTHEIM 

HEAD GROUNDSKEEPER, COLUMBUS CREW, OHPC 


INTERVIEW 

facilities and fields was a big step. 

"At our old training facility, we barely 

had drainage. It was clay soil with maybe a 

couple of inches of sand on top, and anytime 

it rained, we had puddles across the fields, 

which we called bird baths. 

"So, getting 10 inches of sand for our soil 

system was great, but having the SubAir and 

hydronic heating on top of that was the icing 

on the cake." 

Having these technologies in two of the 

three and a half fields is one thing, but 

controlling and monitoring them is another. 

After being introduced to Soil Scout and all 

it would do for the groundskeeping team, 

Andrew quickly utilised them across the site. 

"Over the years being in groundskeeping, 

my biggest positive is that I'm not afraid to 

try anything new technology or equipment 

based. I love the latest technology, trying it 

out, seeing what I like, and seeing if there is 

anything bigger and better out there. 

"Seeing what Soil Scout could do with 

SubAir and our hydronic heating was eyeopening 

– how they control and automate 

those systems together seamlessly, while 

watching the data, moisture and soil 

temperatures from wherever you are is a 

game changer. 


INTERVIEW 

"Once I looked into it, I saw Soil Scout 

isn't a new technology, it's a technology that 

keeps improving, and more and more people 

are realising it's a benefit to groundskeepers 

across the globe like it has been in 

agriculture. 

"We have SubAir in two of our training 

fields, but we have three and a half grass 

fields. After about six months, I quickly 

realised that I needed to get more Soil Scouts 

in the other fields. We were given 36 sensors 

from the original build, and we’re currently on 

our way to 60+. 

"The sensors are just as valuable on the 

fields without SubAir, because we can see 

which fields don't dry out as quickly. They 

need their inputs at different times, and with 

Soil Scout in them, we can measure that and 

prevent waste." 

Subtle differences have become easier 

to spot for Andrew. Noticing when pitches 

are beginning to dry out is one, but watering 

that area separately without concern for the 

rest of the field and saving water is the real 

benefit. 

By using the Soil Scout cloud, he has 

streamlined his view of the pitches. A glance 

can reveal any variabilities in soil moisture 

or temperature, whilst looking a little deeper 

reveals short and long-term trends. 

The placement of the sensors drives this 

information. Andrew is already working at 

multiple depths of three and six inches, but 

a successful trial of the new Soil Scout dual 

sensor has shown him how that process will 

be enhanced further. 

Watching the data, moisture and 

soil temperatures from wherever 

you are is a game changer 



INTERVIEW 

"Multiple depths are significant for us 

because that is what runs the hydronic 

heating," he explains. "It goes off of the 

three-inch average soil temperature. If that 

drops below a half degree, then the heating 

kicks in. 

"You have to rely on those to run the 

system, and we have no issues with that. 

It's an awesome technology to have once 

you have it and know how reliable it is." 

Time doesn't stand still in MLS for long. 

Superstars such as David Beckham come 

as players and return as club owners, and 

the league's stature grows to attract this 

generation's greatest player, Lionel Messi. 

Matching the pace of change is 

imperative so you're not left behind, but in 

the Crew, MLS has a team setting the pace 

from a grounds perspective, which Andrew 

thinks benefits the league. 

"Being in this league for nine years, it 

has grown immensely. Just being on the 

groundskeeping side, you see all of the new 

facilities and teams coming in, building new 

stadiums and training fields, and putting in 

the right technologies for those fields. 

"I think that goes a long way from the 

groundskeeping side in improving the 

league for the long term. It's been crazy 

from where we've come from at our old 

training fields and even our old stadium. 

"Our old stadium was great, other teams 

loved coming here, but it was just a sandbased 

system that hadn't been replaced 

since 2006. So it was a 14-year-old field 

we did what we could with, and going from 

that to having all this, it shows there's a lot 

of new technology in the groundskeeping 

world that will help us become even better. 

"Ours was the first stadium built, and we 

were the first team in the league. Now we 

have our second stadium and OHPC, so I'd 

say Columbus Crew knows you have to keep 

growing with the league." 


INTERVIEW 

Soil Scout is technology that keeps improving 

and more and more people are realising its a 

benefit to groundskeepers across the globe 



OPINION 

Soil Scout - It's a long way 

from testing the ground 

with a screwdriver! 

By Dr John Dempsey 

Independent researcher in turf grass disease 

and physiology 

J_J_Dempsey 

So, over the past few years 

decades, I’ve transitioned from 

a young trainee greenkeeper, 

who’s first jobs included collecting 

the organic matter output 

from the rear ends of sheep to golf course 

superintendent and somehow ended up as 

turf grass pathologist. For most of that time, 

which stretches back to the 1980’s, the idea 

that you could sit back in your office or in 

your comfortable armchair at home or even 

by the poolside in a far-off holiday resort and 

be able to check on your pride and joy of a 

golf course to see what the moisture levels, 

soil temperatures and salt levels were, would 

have seemed like something from Star Trek! 

Superintendent’s hat 

Speaking with my superintendent’s hat 

on, the Soil Scout system has numerous 

benefits and if I’d had them back then, would 

have saved me an awful lot of worry. I’m 

sure most turf grass managers will identify 

with me when I say a long hot summer is not 

something we can enjoy. One of the problems 

we face is drought stress, our surfaces drying 

out and, usually by the time we visually 

identified problems, such as dry spots and 

wilt, the damage had been done! We were 

than faced with an uphill battle, not only 

to alleviate the problem, but also having to 

try and encourage recovery. Being able to 

constantly monitor Volumetric Water Content 

(VWC) allows us to take early preventative 

action, i.e. targeted surfactants, or hand 

watering…. prevention is always the better 

option! 

At the other extreme, as I noted during this 

winter’s cold spell, we can also record low 

soil temperatures, and if your sensor depths 

are staggered, temperatures at a range of 

centimetres below your surfaces. This is a 

handy option if you need to assess the effect 

of extended periods of cold weather. Also 

you’ll have irrefutable data if you want to 

enlighten golfers or committee members to 

the dangers of frost play and effects, such 

as root shear, and show them that while the 

surfaces may look frost clear, the soil below is 

still gripped by winter! 

Numerous studies 

Speaking now with my turf grass 

pathologist’s hat on (it’s like the 

superintendent’s hat but fancier) being able 

to continuously and remotely assess, and 

gather data on soil moisture, temperatures 

and salinity levels is an invaluable tool. Over 

the past number of years, I have carried 

out numerous studies, in areas of disease 

control, turf grass physiology and surfactant 

efficacy. One thing that can be noted, and 

when you think about it its self-evident, is 

that stressed turf grass is always significantly 

more susceptible to disease, pest damage and 

injury from extreme environment factors. 

Prevention and pre-emptive practices are 

always better than playing catch up with 

abiotically or biotically damaged turf grass. 

Here’s some examples of a biotic stress 

and how, by utilising Soil Scout sensors, 

it’s possible to detect them earlier than 

traditional means and head them off at the 

pass (my cowboy hat on now). 

l Areas prone to excess water/flooding: 

traditionally observed by brown turf grass 

following the outline of flooded areas; scalded 

appearance. Sensors can help identify any 

areas inclined to retaining higher than 

average VWC and allow for remedial action. 

l Drought: foot printing, leaf rolling, 

browning of turf grass; tissue becomes brittle. 

Sensors will show the VWC dropping towards 

dangerous levels and allow for pre-emptive 

action. 

l High temperatures: turf grass with 

water-soaked and brown appearance. Sensors 

again will confirm excessive levels and allow, 

for example, syringing of canopy to cool. 

l Low temperature, frost injury: 

Straw-brown colour, bleached turf grass 

appearance, crown hydration, root shear. 

Sensors again can be used to confirm depth 

and levels of soil freezing. 

Greenkeeping 101 

Regarding biotic stress, one of the major 

pathogens we face in Ireland and the UK is 

Anthracnose, and this is very much a stress 

related disease, so any means of reducing 

stress will contribute to less disease - pretty 

much Greenkeeping 101. Providing optimum 

moisture and adequate nutrition are key 

factors in preventing it, so being able to 

monitor the VWC, and salt levels are very 


OPINION 

Soil Scout Sensor is the official 

magazine for Soil Scout Oy. 

Figure 1: Surfactant trial - Control plot vs Surfactant treated treated plot. 

Figure 1 Surfactant trial - Control plot vs Surfactant treated treated plot. 

Soil Scout Oy 

Lapinlahdenkatu 16 

00180 Helsinki 

Finland 

The views expresssed in Soil Scout Sensor 

are those of the individual contributors 

and not necessarily the views of Soil Scout 

Oy or Plus Two Media Limited who take no 

responsibility for them. 

All content is copyright © Soil Scout Oy 2023 

and may not be reproduced without written 

permission. 

Design & Layout 

JAMES BAYLIS 

Head of Creative Content 

james.baylis@soilscout.com 

Contributors: 

BLAIR FERGUSON, DR JOHN DEMPSEY 

& the Soil Scout team. 

Figure 2 Control plot vs Surfactant treated plot, soil moisture (VWC) measured May to 

Figure 2: Control plot vs Surfactant treated plot, soil moisture (VWC) measured May to September 2022. 

September 2022. 

helpful in preventing this problem. 

Likewise, with Microdochium infection, turf 

grass struggling with deficient moisture and 

nutrient levels are more prone to infection. 

Keeping on top of what’s going on in your root 

zones is crucial in the battle for healthy turf! 

I have used the Soil Scout sensors in my 

researcher role for the past 18 months and 

they have provided me with some excellent, 

up to the minute data during my trials. They 

were especially useful during surfactant 

research I carried out, giving me regular 

updates, allowing me to easily assess what 

effect and interaction the various treatments, 

irrigation and nutrient inputs had on trial 

plot root zones. And of course, moisture 

management in sports turf is much more than 

providing water to the plant. Ensuring correct 

infiltration and consistent water distribution 

also has significant effects on soil microbial 

populations, nutrient uptake, turf grass health 

and playing quality. 

I’ve also used them in some greenhouse 

work I did, assessing root zone physical 

amendments, sensors placed in growth 

vessels provided me with interesting and 

novel data. 

As superintendent, I would have loved 

to have had the Soil Scout system installed 

during my time, it would have saved me a lot 

of stressing, but also it would have allowed 

me to produced better and healthier playing 

surfaces, by allowing me to specifically 

target resources to areas prior to problems 

becoming problems! 

As a researcher I find the ability to access 

data instantly from any location very exciting 

(turf nerd here) and extremely useful. 

Overall, I can see the integration of Soil 

Scout sensor technology with drone usage 

and irrigation controls to becoming standard 

operational procedure. 

A long way from testing the ground with a 

screwdriver! 

Soil Scout Sensor has been designed and 

printed by Plus Two Media Limited. 

For more information about design and 

publishing call: 07977 481186 or email: 

james@plus2media.co.uk 


TECHNICAL 

Unlock the power of your data 

with the Analysis page 

By Johannes Tiusanen 

Chief Science Officer, Soil Scout 

One of the most useful tools 

on the Soil Scout Hub is the 

Analysis page. While the 

regular Device view graphs 

overlay data from selected 

devices in the same time axis, which is a 

great way to get an overall view of your soil 

conditions and trends, sometimes you need 

to compare data from different times. That's 

where the Analysis page comes in handy. 

The Analysis page is a powerful tool that 

allows you to compare any data graphs from 

different times. For example, you can plot 

soil moisture from several growing seasons 

on top of each other to analyse the seasonal 

differences. You can also plot any parameters, 

such as temperature and salinity, into the 

same graph. The best part? You can save the 

created Analysis and it will be visible for other 

users of the same Site. 

Let's take a look at an example. Imagine you 

want to compare growing seasons 2020 and 

2022 from the Group "25 cm Scouts". With the 

Analysis page, you can easily plot the moisture 

graphs for both seasons and sync them based 

on growth stage rather than calendar. This 

way, you can see the differences between the 

two seasons and make informed decisions for 

the future. 

It's important to note that while you can 

add as many graphs as you wish, having too 

many can make the graph unclear. But don't 

worry, you can hide and show graph lines by 

clicking their legends. 

Another great feature of the Analysis page 

is that the graph lines are live. This means 

that an unfinished line will extend as data 

accumulates, and every time you open a 

particular Analysis the "ongoing season" graph 

will have grown longer. 

Creating an Analysis is easy. Simply click the 

"Create Analysis" button and give the analysis 

a familiar name which will also be understood 

by your colleagues. Then, add data to the 

graph by clicking the "Add Data" button and 

choosing the Scouts and/or Groups you wish 

to add. You can choose the same data multiple 

times if you wish to have several graphs from 

the same source but different times. Once the 

graphs appear in the plot, you can change the 

Data Type (moisture, temperature...) and the 

Start Date of each line. 

Your feedback is invaluable to us as we 

continue to improve our platform to better 

serve your needs. With the Analysis page, the 

possibilities are endless, and we can't wait to 

hear how it transforms the way you work with 

your data. Go ahead, create your own analysis, 

discover the power of your data and let us 

know how you feel about it! 

26 22 soilscout.com | @Soil_Scout | #GainADeeperView

Meet the Soil Scout family 

THE UNDERGROUND SOIL DATA EXPERT TEAM 

Jalmari Talola 

CEO 

jalmari.talola@soilscout.com 

Mobile: +358 40 820 1709 (Finland) 

Johannes Tiusanen 

Chief Science Officer 

johannes.tiusanen@soilscout.com 

Mobile: +358 44 3659799 (Finland) 

Jussi Sirkiä 

Chief Technology Officer 

jussi.sirkia@soilscout.com 


Bahman Doaeian 

Sales Director EMEA 

bahman.doaeian@soilscout.com 


Nick Durkin 

Sales & Sports Turf Specialist 

nick.durkin@soilscout.com 

Mobile: +44 7538 301753 (UK) 

Tommi Tienhaara 

Sales Chef 

tommi.tienhaara@soilscout.com 


Christian Walter 

Sales Executive 

christian.walter@soilscout.com 

Mobile: +1 (813) 440 0499 (United States) 

Ville Oksanen 

Business Controller 

ville.oksanen@soilscout.com 

Mobile: +358 40 541 2213 (Finland) 

Miiro Jääskeläinen 

Underground Weatherman / Agronomist 

miiro.jaaskelainen@soilscout.com 


Heikki Huhtanen 

Software Developer 

heikki.huhtanen@soilscout.com 


sales@soilscout.com | www.soilscout.com 


REAL-TIME GAINS 

BEGIN UNDERGROUND 

I'd definitely say the Soil Scout 

sensors have given me peace of 

mind regarding decision making. 

Now, I go away at the weekend, 

and if I'm not sure it needs 

irrigation, I don't set anything 

because I've got the Rain Bird 

app. 

So, I'll sit at home watching TV, 

and at half nine, I'll look at Soil 

Scout, put some water on if we 

need it, and go to bed happy. 

Ben Burrill, Course Manager 

The Hallamshire 

sales@soilscout.com | www.soilscout.com

Soil Scout Sensor 7

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