Topsoil Moisture

Topsoil Moisture

Soil Moisture

We sampled North of Springfield today.  Topsoil moisture is good.  Some of the low ground was wet, even though it has been 3 days since rain.

Rainfall Shortage?

Rainfall Shortage?

Soil Moisture weather

We have been hearing some concerns expressed about dry soils in our area.  Rainfall the past week should have relieved that concern in the short run.

Topsoil moisture on Wednesday when we went to the field was just OK.  Topsoil should be well soaked at this point.  Septic tank borings through the winter to a depth of 5 feet have showed that subsoil was at least moist and in some places saturated,

Soil Moisture does not change much until tillage and transpiration start.  In a dry period it is easy to mess up your topsoil moisture with too much tillage.  With wetter topsoil, that is even easier to do.

The real problem is that through the winter, the rainfall pattern was a dry one. Until the past 2 days, I can't remember the last time we had at least an inch of rain.  If that dry pattern were to continue into the summer, crop yields would suffer.  The fact is that we cannot grow top yielding crops without timely rains in June, July, and August.      

Soil Moisture Report

Soil Moisture Report

Soil Moisture

I got to work outdoors today.  I had a septic investigation in Ramsey, and late in the day another near Hillsboro.  There are still puddles out there, and near Ramsey, there was a water table at about 20 inches.  It was quite  a mess to pull soil from 5 feet deep.  Southeast of Hillsboro, I pulled into the field with the truck.  The soil was still fairly damp, but firm.  One boring had a water table at 30 inches, but the other 2 had none within 5 feet.  Landscape was fairly uniform, so I am had pressed to say why.  There was some machinery moving on the roads, but I did not see anyone attempting field work.

Soil Moisture

Soil Moisture

Soil Moisture

I did a septic tank evaluation today near Irving.  It was in a fairly flat area.  The ground was covered with weed residue.  There was no frost at all in the afternoon.  The soil had a water table at a depth of 2 feet.

Very Wet

Very Wet

Soil Moisture

NWS radar shows we had a little under and inch to a little over an inch.  I made a trip to Shipman today and it looks much wetter.

Fulton and Schuyler Counties

Fulton and Schuyler Counties

corn cribs Soil Moisture

I worked in the Bader area today.  In contrast to yesterday, soil moisture was short in some of the topsoil borings.  

I also got a good shot of a purple corn crib.  

Subsoil Moisture Report

Subsoil Moisture Report

Soil Moisture

I did a septic tank investigation today near Herrick in Shelby County.  The soil was moist to about 30 inches.  Below that depth, moisture is short.  We just finished the 3rd wettest November on record in Illinois.  In my opinion, we are headed into winter with adequate moisture.  We are likely to recharge that soil easily by April 1 planting time.

Lots of Rain

Lots of Rain

Soil Moisture

I try to keep everyone up to date on subsoil moisture as I am able.  The photo below, near Litchfield, shows a pumped tile outlet running at full capacity.  We have had over 3 inches of rain in the past few days and it would appear that subsoil moisture is somewhat excessive.

Subsoil Moisture

Subsoil Moisture

Soil Moisture

We did a septic tank investigation yesterday in Bond County.  We were on a site where water does not stand.  Subsoil was saturated at 2 to 3 feet.  Above that depth, soil was very wet. It would appear that in that area at least, we are going into spring with good to slightly excessive soil moisture. 

Improved Soil Condition is Good for Crops

Improved Soil Condition is Good for Crops

Soil Moisture

The fact that improved soil condition pay off in better crops seems obvious, but South Dakota State researchers have 40 years of data to back that up.  They say the improvement is related to improved moisture availability.  In South Dakota, rainfall is an issue every year.  In Illinois, it is normal to have some moisture stress in the summer.  Greg Sauder is looking at irrigation and drainage to better control moisture issues.  I agree that we need to control excessive water, but I am not sure we realize the importance of moisture conservation too.  We can conserve moisture with cover crops and tillage practices that leave lots of crop residue on the surface. Another way to improve soil moisture availibilty ti to avoid soil compaction.  Click on the link above to learn more.

Subsoil Moisture

Subsoil Moisture

Soil Moisture

Yesterday I heard on the news that this has been the driest winter since 1953-54.  That winter was followed by a devastating drought.  I am not a long range weather forecaster, so I don't know what this peice of information means. 

The good news is that we did septic tank investigations in Taylorville and Columbia that past two days.  None of the six holes we bored had a water table, however moisture was good to a depth of 5 feet.  If we have a dry summer, at least we are going in with adequate moisture.