Using Soil Moisture Technology

Soil moisture monitoring has become a common practice for those who rely on irrigation methods. Since soil types can vary from field to field, it can be tedious to know exactly what the soil moisture profile might look like without using some form of tool to check it. There are many benefits to monitoring soil moisture; the most obvious benefit is reducing water use by knowing what the water availability and capacity levels are in a field. Another great reason to monitor soil moisture is it can improve overall crop health, which can help increase production. Whether the importance is on conservation or rationing water allotments, accurate soil moisture data is critical.

Helena’s Inspex® program has a variety of offerings to help you monitor your soils. One method measures volumetric water content. Sensors are strategically placed based on irrigation setup and soil type. Advancements in software technology allow you to view your soil moisture profiles in real-time. This data is stored securely on a web-based cloud platform and can also be exported into graphs and reports. Parameters can then be set, along with specific alerts that can help guide you in determining what is best for your crop's specific needs. Along with soil moisture, these sites can be custom designed and can include sensors such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and leaf wetness. By adding these options, we are able to run disease models and other calculations such as degree days and chill hours.

For more information about what Helena can offer, please contact your local Helena representative today.

- Christina White, Precision Ag Specialist