Monitoring soil moisture levels using sensors or other methods allows for precise irrigation, preventing water waste and plant stress. By monitoring soil moisture and understanding soil moisture constants (field capacity, wilting point, available water capacity, saturation capacity) we can optimise water use, enhance crop yields, and maintain environmental sustainability.
Alongside these factors, understanding the soil types present on each farm and choosing the right equipment for those soils, the land use activity and the irrigation system type will ensure a more accurate irrigation decision. Different soil types will require different type of sensor and because it is quite common to have variations in soil types across a farm or paddock, we need to check that there are enough soil moisture monitoring sites to get representative data for the area being irrigated. As a minimum we should ensure the most representative soil type is covered.
Locating, installing and calibrating soil moisture monitoring systems correctly will provide a trend-based set of data to make informed decisions about amount and irrigation timing, resulting in better water use efficiency, lower operational costs and enhancement of crop health.
Natalia Zefferino
Environmental Consultant