[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon=”off” items_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” admin_label=”Supreme Breadcrumbs” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” items_text_color=”gcid-cd1279dd-8cbf-4f0f-bdb9-fb095ab96652″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-cd1279dd-8cbf-4f0f-bdb9-fb095ab96652%22:%91%22items_text_color%22%93}”][/dsm_breadcrumbs]

Moisture Mapping Soil and Plant Moisture Monitoring

Moisture mapping is a valuable practice in agriculture that involves measuring and analyzing the moisture content of soil and plants. By monitoring moisture levels, farmers can optimize irrigation schedules, prevent drought stress, and improve crop yields. This article explores the different methods used to monitor soil and plant moisture, highlighting the benefits and limitations of each approach.

How do you monitor moisture in soil?

Soil moisture sensors

  • Inserted directly into the soil
  • Measure soil moisture content through electrical resistance or capacitance
  • Provide real-time monitoring

Tensiometers

  • Measure soil water potential, a measure of the force required to extract water from the soil
  • Provide an indirect indication of soil moisture content
  • Useful for monitoring moisture levels in clay soils

Neutron probes

  • Emit neutrons that interact with soil moisture
  • Measure the amount of radiation that returns to the probe, which is inversely proportional to the soil moisture content
  • Provide depth-specific moisture data

Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) probes

  • Send electromagnetic pulses through the soil
  • Measure the travel time of the pulses, which is affected by the soil moisture content
  • Can provide accurate moisture measurements