IrrigationNZ launches soil moisture monitoring resource

18 March 2016 – for immediate release

IrrigationNZ launches soil moisture monitoring resource

Coming to grips with the technology available to assess soil moisture on-farm has been made easier with the release of IrrigationNZ’s Soil Moisture Monitoring Guide. Funding support for this resource has been provided through AGMARDT.

The resource book was launched today at a Precision Agriculture Association of New Zealand (PAANZ) workshop in Ashburton.

PAANZ chairman Craige Mackenzie says “The launch of the new soil moisture monitoring resource that IrrigationNZ has produced is a great addition to our workshop which is focused on the use of technology to reduce nitrate leaching. It is very important for PAANZ to work with organisations such as IrrigationNZ to deliver solutions for the farmers which reduce environmental impacts. Soil moisture probes are a very efficient way of measuring soil moisture levels and crop water use.”

IrrigationNZ Project Manager Steve Breneger says many farmers don’t know where to begin when investigating soil moisture monitoring and were intimidated by the range of options.

The resource book covers how to select the right product, installation and calibration issues, capturing and interpreting data and outlines good practice for soil moisture monitoring. Other issues canvassed include how soil types and irrigation systems affect sensor choice, an explanation of accuracy and precision and what can be achieved by the different sensors, and solutions to common maintenance problems.

“The increased investment in precision irrigation infrastructure and control systems, alongside a need for irrigators to be more accountable for their water use and nutrient loss, has resulted in increased adoption of soil moisture monitoring.

However, the use of soil moisture monitoring within irrigation decision making is not a simple task. Irrigators must choose the right equipment for their soil, land use activities and irrigation system type. This sits alongside locating, installing and calibrating (if necessary) sensors correctly to ensure they correctly inform irrigation decisions. Accessing, managing and understanding the measured data is also important. If soil moisture monitoring is to be used successfully each of these aspects has to be carefully worked through and our resource book helps with these decisions.”

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