<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000876103
<NAME> ECO SOIL SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998             JAN-01-1998             APR-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                       1                       1                       1
<CASH>                                           1,325                   1,325                      17                      17
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   22,906                  22,906                   7,948                   7,948
<ALLOWANCES>                                       300                     300                     107                     107
<INVENTORY>                                     15,855                  15,855                  11,091                  11,091
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                43,496                  43,496                  19,858                  19,858
<PP&E>                                          10,142                  10,142                   2,456                   2,456
<DEPRECIATION>                                     346                     695                      75                     143
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  68,324                  68,324                  28,860                  28,860
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           31,800                  31,800                  12,195                  12,195
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                            82                      82                      57                      57
<OTHER-SE>                                      34,827                  34,827                  15,876                  15,876
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    68,324                  68,324                  28,860                  28,860
<SALES>                                         26,884                  35,293                  11,300                  15,229
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                26,884                  35,293                  11,300                  15,229
<CGS>                                           19,090                  24,793                   7,005                   9,257
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   19,090                  24,793                   7,005                   9,257
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 6,011                  10,499                   3,012                   5,719
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 245                     340                      83                     250
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,608                   (133)                   1,202                       3
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,608                   (133)                   1,202                       3
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,608                   (133)                   1,202                       3
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .01                   (.01)                     .11                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .08                   (.01)                     .08                       0
        

</TABLE>