A new soil moisture sensor developed by Adelaide-based water technology company Agrilink has taken top honours from viewers across Australia following its appearance on the New Inventors screened on ABC TV last week.

The AquaBluTM sensor - which allows accurate control of domestic garden watering by monitoring soil moisture - has won the People's Choice Award with almost 60 per cent of the vote.

The product controls a domestic watering system in much the same way that a thermostat maintains air-conditioning at a constant temperature. If the ground is already wet, the AquaBlu controller will prevent watering. Conversely, if the soil is dry, it will permit watering until there is sufficient soil moisture.

Using an advanced microprocessor-controlled AquaOneTM soil moisture sensor, AquaBlu responds in around one second to any change in soil moisture.

Agrilink Chief Executive Nigel Hennessy said "such positive watering control meant 'just the right amount' of water was always applied, reducing the environmental impact of garden watering and saving water."

AquaBlu can easily be retrofitted into any new or existing domestic watering system. For basic systems, AquaBlu can be used with an inexpensive water solenoid valve to replace a standard tap timer. AquaBlu uses a simple "dial" control which is set to the desired soil moisture level and maintains the same soil moisture level - summer or winter - eliminating the need for regular weather or seasonal management.

Mr Hennessy said it was estimated there were more than 300 million automatic watering systems worldwide. "Only a few hundred thousand of these systems have any sort of ‘feedback' mechanism that tells them to turn off when the garden doesn't need water," he said.

"So the water-saving potential is enormous."

The product also has been recognised by the irrigation and water industry, with Agrilink receiving a ‘Best New Product Award' at the Irrigation Association of Australia Conference in Brisbane. Agrilink also received a ‘High Commendation' at the South Australian Water Industry Alliance annual awards in the Innovation section.

Agrilink's Senior Electronics Engineer Neil Paterson presented the AquaBlu moisture sensor on the New Inventors episode, which is hosted by James O'Loughlin. Other entries were a stock feed dispenser and a laser guided biopsy device.

AquaBlu appeared on episode 31 of the New Inventors, collecting the People's Choice Award over the Stock Feed Bale Dispenser and Laser Guided Biopsy Device with 17 per cent and 25 per cent of the vote respectively.