Introduction

Moisture mapping is an essential tool in the monitoring of soil and plant moisture levels. By understanding how moisture is distributed throughout a given area, farmers and other professionals can make informed decisions about irrigation, drainage, and other management practices.

How Do You Monitor Moisture in Soil?

There are a variety of methods that can be used to monitor soil moisture levels. These methods include:

• Tensiometers
• Soil moisture sensors
• Remote sensing

Tensiometers

Tensiometers are simple devices that consist of a sealed plastic tube filled with water and a vacuum gauge. The tube is inserted into the soil, and the vacuum gauge measures the tension on the water in the tube. As the soil dries out, the tension on the water increases, which causes the vacuum gauge to read lower. Tensiometers are relatively inexpensive and easy to use, but they can only measure the moisture tension at a single point in the soil.

Soil Moisture Sensors

Soil moisture sensors are electronic devices that measure the dielectric constant of the soil. The dielectric constant is a measure of the amount of water in the soil, and it can be used to estimate the soil moisture level. Soil moisture sensors are more expensive than tensiometers, but they can measure the moisture level at multiple points in the soil.

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing is a method of measuring soil moisture by using satellites or other airborne platforms. Remote sensing can provide a wide-area view of soil moisture levels, but it is not as accurate as tensiometers or soil moisture sensors.