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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #386120
Research Project: Improving Irrigation Management and Water Quality for Humid and Sub-humid Climates

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Soil water sensors – managing soil water

Author
item Vories, Earl

Submitted to: University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent improvements in sensors and wireless networking have made soil water sensors much easier for farmers to use to help manage irrigation. Although there are many sensors from several different manufacturers, the two primary kinds measure soil water pressure or soil water content. USDA-ARS scientists at Portageville and Columbia, Missouri have been studying soil water sensors and soil properties to improve the recommendations for producers in the Missouri bootheel, where soils are generally quite variable. By placing soil water tension and water content sensors at multiple depths in the same cotton plots, the response of the sensors to both rainfall and irrigation was compared and useful information was obtained for both kinds of sensors. This research is continuing to better understand the relationship between soil water and texture, which will allow farmers to manage irrigation more efficiently.