Monitoring Soil Moisture Dynamics in a Cornfield
Description
Soil moisture plays a crucial role in hydrological processes such as infiltration and runoff, influencing water uptake by plant roots, subsurface drainage, and chemical leaching into groundwater. Understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil moisture is essential for optimizing water resources in crop production and minimizing environmental pollution. This study utilizes a capacitance probe soil moisture sensor to monitor these dynamics in a cornfield at North Carolina A&T State University. Continuous monitoring throughout the season will provide data for scientific recommendations aiding farmers in making precise irrigation decisions, which is important, particularly to North Carolina's increasing droughts and rainfall variability. Preliminary results show significant fluctuations in soil moisture at shallow depths (0.10 m), with sharp increases after irrigation and rainfall, followed by rapid losses through evaporation and plant uptake. At 0.30 m, moisture content was stable during the growing season but decreased during prolonged drought, acting as a buffer against crop water stress. Moisture at 0.56 m remained constant, critical for long-term soil moisture retention and groundwater preservation during droughts. Overall, this study highlights the importance of soil moisture monitoring for better irrigation practices and sustainable water management in agriculture, especially under climate variability.