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High Plains Water District, USDA-NRCS complete 2008 pre-plant soil moisture surveyTexas Above-average rainfall across most of the 15-county High Plains Underground Water Conservation District service area has resulted in better soil moisture conditions at the start of the 2008 crop year than in 2007, according to pre-plant soil moisture survey data collected by the High Plains Water District and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Annual pre-plant soil moisture survey data were collected by Water District and USDA-NRCS personnel from Jan. 21 to Feb. 6. The overall average 2008 pre-plant soil moisture deficit was 2.54 inches in the upper 3 feet and 3.62 inches in the upper 5 feet of the soil. This is the amount of water needed, either by irrigation or rainfall, to bring these respective portions of the soil profile to field capacity prior to planting. In comparison, the average pre-plant soil moisture deficit was 2.90 inches in the upper 3 feet and 4.92 inches in the upper 5 feet of the soil at the start of the 2007 crop year. A total of 198 permanently-installed soil moisture monitoring sites were read this year. Each site is representative of the crops and farming practices in the area in which they were located. Moisture meters were used to gather readings for each 6-inch interval in the upper 5 feet of the soil. Results of the 2008 pre-plant soil moisture survey are shown on maps published in the March issue of The Cross Section, the district's monthly newsletter. It is available for on-line viewing at http://www.hpwd.com/news/cross_section.asp. Copies are also available by contacting the High Plains Water District office in Lubbock. It is important to note that areas within the High Plains Water District have had little rainfall in late 2007 and early 2008. Therefore, producers should conserve existing soil moisture whenever possible. Reducing the amount of tillage operations, especially those which turn moist soil to the top of the ground, will generally help conserve soil moisture. Producers may also wish to consider installation of furrow dikes to maximize benefits of irrigation and/or rainfall. Furrow dikes are small mounds of soil mechanically installed in the furrow, which creates a small basin in front of each dam. When rainfall occurs in amounts exceeding the soil's infiltration rate, the furrow dikes hold water in the small reservoir until it can soak into the soil. Furrow dikes are also used in conjunction with LEPA center pivots to keep irrigation water on the field, which helps reduce water waste ("irrigation tailwater"). Both Water District and USDA-NRCS personnel recommend that producers check soil moisture conditions in their respective fields prior to planting. An illustrated step-by-step procedure to determine soil moisture is found in the Water District's Water Management Note, Estimating Soil Moisture By Feel and Appearance. It may be downloaded at www.hpwd.com/downloads/downloads.asp. Printed copies are also available by contacting the High Plains Water District office at 806-762-0181. 3/31/08 Date: 3/27/08 Advertisement
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