Soil Moisture Monitoring: Meeting Crop Need and Estimating Water Loss Out of the Root Zone
DOWNLOADMarch 5, 2019 - Younsuk Dong, Steve Miller, Lyndon Kelley
Print
EmailThis presentation was delivered at the Michiana Irrigated Corn and Soybean Production Workshop in Shipshewana, Indiana, on March 5, 2019 by Younsuk Dong, Steve Miller, and Lyndon Kelley.
It compares various soil moisture sensor systems, including models from Campbell Scientific, Sentek, METER Group and Irrometer, evaluating their cost, sensitivity, installation and data capabilities. The goal was to assess how these sensors perform at different soil depths for monitoring water availability and detecting loss beyond the root zone. The presentation emphasizes the importance of matching sensor selection to crop and field conditions and demonstrates how sensor-based irrigation management can improve water use efficiency. Data from sweet corn trials at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center is used to show sensor performance and moisture dynamics. The presentation also introduces a developing low-cost remote sensor system and highlights the use of FAO AquaCrop modeling to evaluate irrigation strategies and their impact on yield, efficiency, and drainage.
