Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Vol 41, No 2: February 2026

Enhanced soil moisture sensing using graphene-coated copper electrodes

Nuralam, Nuralam (Unknown)
Muzakki, Rizdam Firly (Unknown)
Kusumastuti, Sri Lestari (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Feb 2026

Abstract

Soil moisture monitoring is essential for precision agriculture to optimize irrigation and increase crop productivity. Traditional conductivity-based sensors often face limitations such as low sensitivity, slow response, and measurement instability. This study presents a simple and effective enhancement method by applying a graphene coating on copper electrodes using the drop casting technique. Experimental evaluations were conducted on natural soil samples at varying moisture levels. The graphene-coated sensor exhibited a significantly higher sensitivity of 23.0 Ω/% compared to 12.0 Ω/% for the uncoated sensor, a faster response time of approximately 5 seconds, and improved measurement consistency with a reduced standard deviation of ±15 Ω. Graphene's superior electrical conductivity and strong water affinity are key factors contributing to this performance improvement. These findings indicate that graphene-coated sensors offer a promising solution for reliable, cost-effective soil moisture monitoring in smart farming systems.

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