This study presents a new, low-cost sensor system for measuring soil CO₂ gas continuously over long periods. Built using easy-to-get hardware components, the system costs USD 700. It was tested for six months in desert soil, proving to be reliable, easy to maintain, and capable of capturing important changes in soil CO₂. The CO₂ flux calculations from this system closely matched those from a standard measurement device, making it a practical tool for research requiring multiple sensor systems.

Do-it-yourself hardware is a new approach for improving measurement resolution in research. Here we present a new low-cost, wireless underground sensor network for soil monitoring. All data logging, power, and communication component cost is USD 150, much cheaper than other available commercial solutions. We provide the complete building guide to reduce any technical barriers, which we hope will allow easier reproducibility and open new environmental monitoring applications.