Decision making from moisture probes

Dale Boyd DEDJTR, Echuca

DEDJTR Soil moisture monitoring sites across the state

Clay loam soil

Capacitance probes & placement

Probe put down with slurry

Trench dug from fence line

Werrimull – summed soil moisture 2015

2015 Jan Mar May July Sept Nov Jan 2016

Total soil moisture30-100cm

Werrimull – stacked individual traces

30cm

40cm

50cm

60cm

70cm

80cm

90cm

100cm

Speedo to quickly identify total soil moisture at key time periods

Wimmera – summed soil moisture 2015

2015 Jan Mar May July Sept Nov

Total soil moisture30-100cm

Ouyen – soil moisture history 2013-16

2013 Spring 2014 Spring 2015 Spring

Moisture down to 90cm with this rain event

Moisture to 60cm through winter

Verify data with field inspections and soil core to validate moisture is at the depth indicated by the sensor

Protection and maintenanceAutomatic rain gauges are not maintenance free

Any Questions

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Summary•Comparison of soil moisture changes across different years – rainfall and moisture depletion

•Need to determine crop upper and lower limits (critical for decision making)

•Key management decisions-Crop type (particularly in low rainfall zones)-In crop inputs (nitrogen)

- Upfront inputs- Disease control- marketing- Salvaging crop