Soil Moisture 101: A Farming Guide to Soil Moisture Management and Soil Moisture Meters 

Soil Moisture Meter and Vantage Brand Trailor in the Field

In this guide, we’re going to dive into the topic of soil moisture and soil moisture meters. Soil moisture is a subject that may not always receive the attention it deserves, but its a critical aspect for land a plant management. Soil plays a central role in many areas of farming, impacting everything from seed germination to irrigation, fertiliser application, and the growth of food and fibre.  

In New Zealand, we take pride in making the most of our water resources while looking after our beautiful environment. That’s one of the reasons why understanding soil moisture is crucial. Few elements have as much influence as soil moisture, due to its role in nurturing plant growth and ensuring profitable farming. 

Buckle up as we are about to provide you with foundational knowledge about soil moisture and why it matters on your farm. 

The importance of soil moisture in farming

  • Crop Growth and Yield: Adequate soil moisture is essential for successful crop germination, growth, and development because not having enough moisture can lead to poor crop establishment and decreased yields. 
  • Water Management: When it comes to water management, balance is key. Over-irrigation can result in water wastage and nutrient leaching, while under-irrigation can stress crops and reduce yields. Effective soil moisture management helps strike a balance that ensures efficient water use.  
  • Drought Resilience: Soil moisture management plays a pivotal role in drought resilience. Farms with well-balanced soil moisture levels are better equipped for dry periods and can minimise the impact of drought on crops. 
  • Environmental Impact: When talking about soil moisture, we need to think about the environment too. Poor soil moisture management can have environmental consequences including water runoff, contamination of water bodies, and depletion of water resources. By using moisture management strategies, we can reduce these environmental impacts. 

The key benefits of measuring your soil moisture

  • Optimised Irrigation: Monitoring soil moisture helps inform decisions about when and how much to irrigate. That means crops receive the right amount of water which reduces waste and lowers irrigation costs. 
  • Maximised Crop Yield: Proper soil moisture management fosters healthy plant growth which can lead to higher crop yields.  
  • Crop Selection: Different crops have different water needs. With soil moisture insights, you can pick the right crops for your soil conditions. 
  • Reduced Fertiliser Use: Balanced soil moisture enhances nutrient management. When moisture levels are just right, plants can efficiently absorb nutrients, which reduces the need for excessive fertilisation and minimises nutrient runoff.  
  • Financial Planning: Accurate soil moisture data aids the decision-making process, by facilitating efficient resource allocation, reducing input costs, and enhancing profitability. 

Understanding soil moisture levels

To understand soil moisture levels, we need to understand the physical properties of soil. Soil is made up of different-sized particles, such as sand, silt, and clay. The spaces between these particles hold air and water, and the balance between the two is critical to plant growth.  

The amount of water that soil can hold depends on the size of the soil particles and the spaces between them. Sandy soil, for instance, has larger spaces between particles, which means it can hold less water compared to clay soil, which has smaller spaces between particles.  

Soil moisture levels are typically measured in terms of soil moisture tension, which is the force required to remove water from the soil. This measurement is expressed in units of kilopascals (kPa). The higher the soil moisture tension, the drier the soil, and the harder it is for plants to extract water from it.  

So, what happens if I don’t measure my soil moisture? 

Navigating water-related challenges on your farm can be a daunting task. Nature often dictates whether there’s too much water, too little, or it’s in the wrong places within your fields. The unpredictability of rainfall further complicates matters, leaving you with minimal control over the water supply. 

However, it’s crucial to prioritise water management because excessive or insufficient water can result in a number of problems that can negatively impact your farm’s profitability. Some of these risks include:  

  • Delayed planting or harvest. 
  • An increased risk of lower-quality crops. 
  • The need for replanting, which consumes valuable time and resources.
  • Soil compaction, which diminishes soil structure and hinders root and water penetration. 

When faced with water-related challenges in your fields, even small adjustments can significantly improve your profitability by reducing damage, diseases, and crop losses associated with water extremes. 

How soil moisture meters work  

Soil moisture meters work by measuring the electrical magnetic conductivity of the soil, which is directly related to the amount of water present in it. There are two common methods employed by these meters: one involves measuring the capacitance between the probe and the surrounding soil, while the other gauges the resistance of the soil between two prongs. 

In capacitance measurement, electrodes penetrate the soil, with high moisture levels reflected by high capacitance. Conversely, resistive meters measure the electrical resistance between electrodes, where higher moisture content corresponds to lower resistance. Soil moisture meters come in many different forms from TDR’s, tapes, probes and handheld sensors. The moisture meter and software then converts these readings into a moisture reading, which is displayed on a digital screen or gauge.  

Some soil moisture meters also come with additional features, such as temperature sensors, pH sensors, and nutrient sensors, which provide a more comprehensive understanding of soil conditions.

Choosing the right soil moisture meter for your farm 

Choosing the right soil moisture meter can be challenging, given the range of options available in the market. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a soil moisture meter for your farm: 

Crop type 

Different crops have different water requirements, and the type of crop you grow will influence the type of soil moisture meter you will need. Some crops, such as maize can root deeply into the soil profile, while in comparison, ryegrass is much shallower. Selecting a moisture meter that enables the observation of both irrigation effects and root uptake, particularly through active root zones, provides deeper insights into the soil conditions beneath the surface. Moisture meters come in a range of lengths and placements, therefore, accessing what will fit your needs with the crop rotation you have is an important factor. 

Connectivity options 

Soil moisture meters vary across different forms, including cellular, LoRaWan/NBIoT, Bluetooth, handheld devices, and mesh networks. Cellular options are effective when connectivity is robust, with cellular performing better in areas with good coverage and NBIoT being preferable in low-coverage regions. In scenarios where signal strength is a concern, alternatives like mesh networks, Bluetooth, and handheld options may be more suitable. 

Budget 
Soil moisture meters come in a range of prices, from basic models to advanced ones with multiple sensors and features. Consider your budget when choosing a soil moisture meter and select one that provides the necessary features while staying within your budget. 

Ease of use 
Choose a soil moisture meter that is easy to use and maintain. Some models require regular calibration, while others are self-calibrating. Consider the user interface and display when choosing a soil moisture meter, as it should be easy to read and understand. 

Soil Moisture Meters available through Vantage NZ 

We hope you now understand why leveraging technology to monitor soil moisture levels is essential. We offer solutions to help you address water-related challenges, partnering with AquaCheck, Halo Systems, and Metos by Pessl Instruments. 

AquaCheck Soil Moisture Probes 

Aquacheck’s soil moisture probes are filled with features that help you avoid over-watering, potential nutrient leaching and energy waste, while improving crop growth by managing your inputs. 

The high-quality and reasonably priced AquaCheck probes are compatible with a variety of end-user platforms and telemetry options. The vertically oriented probes are simple to use, have wireless access, and an additional connection for a rain gauge.  Aquacheck probes have the benefit of being simple to install and remove, which makes them ideal for seasonal cropping. 

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HALO Water Management

HALO Systems use innovative software that can be adjusted to your needs, farm-wide control networks, and a user-friendly dashboard for all farm information.   

Halo systems provide a data gateway in the most practical location and connect the sensors needed to meet your requirements. It can work anywhere, at any time, and is solar or mains powered, with cellular and internet connectivity options.  

Halo has a broad range of proven applications ranging from dairy farms to factories, and they can provide specific wired and wireless solutions for any industry use. 

Vantage New Zealand_HALO_weathermonitoringpicture_1160x629c0pcenter_72dpi

METOS by Pessl Instruments

Pessl Instruments offers a wide range of hardware and software solutions for effective soil moisture and irrigation management.  

Soil moisture sensors from Pessl Instruments are designed to help users in making informed irrigation scheduling decisions, resulting in improved yield quantity and quality while lowering water, fertiliser, labour, and energy costs.    

Metos 8

By gaining data-driven insights that guide crop production, conserve resources, reduce expenses, and champion environmental sustainability, soil moisture solutions unlock new potential. That’s why understanding your soil’s moisture content is one of the keys to a sustainable and successful future in agriculture. 

To learn more about how our soil moisture solutions could benefit your farming operation, get in touch with one of our Precision Ag specialists today. 

The latest Trimble Displays are here

The GFX-1060 and GFX-1260 have landed in New Zealand and are now in stock. Maximise your efficiency and ROI with these easy-to-use displays, offering:

 Simplicity – easy to install, use, and transfer between vehicles
– Reliability – rugged construction to stand the test of time
– Flexibility – high compatibility to work with your existing equipment
– Scalability – the technology can easily adapt as your business changes and grows

With faster processing, greater memory and more storage capacity, these robust displays make handling even the most complex farm operations easy.

The GFX-1260™ display is Trimble Agriculture’s newest flagship 12-inch (30.5 cm) Android-based display, the ideal choice for controlling and executing all in-field work through the Precision-IQ™ field application interface.

The GFX-1060™ display is Trimble Agriculture’s latest 10-inch (25.6 cm) Android-based display, a great option for controlling and executing all in-field work, also equipped with the Precision-IQ™ interface.

Compare their specifications using the table below.

GFX-1060 Display
GFX-1260 Display
10 inch (12 cm) high-definition, color touchscreen display
12 inch (30.5 cm) high-definition, color touchscreen display
Android-based operating system
Android-based operating system
Precision-IQ firmware
Precision-IQ firmware
32 GB storage, 4 GB RAM
32 GB storage, 4 GB RAM
Optional ISOBUS task controller and universal terminal
Optional ISOBUS task controller and universal terminal
Control up to 4 input channels and 48 sections
Control up to 6 input channels and 48 sections
Connection for two USBs, 1 BRR port, 3 CAN ports and support for 2 external cameras, plus Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi connectivity
Connection for two USBs, 1 BRR port, 3 CAN ports and support for 2 external cameras, plus Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi connectivity

Customer story

Hear what a Trimble customer has to say about working with the new GFX displays.

Find out more or download datasheets at vantage-nz.com/displays.

Where do I start with Precision Nutrient Management?

In the current climate, it’s more important than ever to use all the tools in the toolbox to cut costs. There’s no better place to start than with more targeted management of your inputs, such as fertiliser. Whether you’re applying manually and need to figure out how to begin using Precision Ag to lower your costs or you’re a seasoned technology user looking to make some further improvements, it can be tough to know where to start. 

Shane, one of our Trimble Hardware Specialists, ran us through the process of applying Precision Nutrient Management (PNM) to your farm operation. Here’s what he had to say. 

What’s the leading issue you’re hearing out there right now that leads people to look at PNM? 

Right now, it’s all about saving costs and making an impact on the bottom line. The rising cost of fertiliser is making PNM a no-brainer for most farmers and growers as our nutrients just get more expensive.  

Where do I start if I’m thinking about using technology to lower input costs? 

It all depends. If you’re starting from scratch, we’ll see what equipment, machinery, and data you have already. We walk our customers through the process with a phone call or site visit to see what’s there and what they’ll need to meet their goals.  

An essential piece of equipment will be a Display, generally a GFX-750, and a Receiver such as the NAV-900 to get the functionality you need. An ISOBUS connection, such as in the Field IQ system will mean your equipment can talk to any tractor, so you’ll be able to use what you have already. This will allow you to start collecting data using the right Trimble Ag Software, which your local rep will talk you through too. 

A lot of customers like to add autosteer into the mix to avoid overlap, which uses excess nutrients, to save costs as well. But again, it depends how much functionality you’re looking for. 

If you’re already collecting data with Precision Ag technology, we’ll be looking into what you’re currently using, what data you’ve collected, and where the areas of improvement are. When we’ve decided what you need to meet your requirements, we’ll give you some figures for different options. 

What happens once I’ve got the hardware I need?

Once we’ve agreed on what you’d like to go ahead with, we’ll get a Vantage NZ rep out to your farm to install the products and give you some training to show you how to use them. First, it’s about getting you started collecting the data and getting used to using the technology. Once you run with that for a few weeks, we often have another site visit to check in, see how things are going, and answer any questions.  

At this point, customers usually feel pretty comfortable using their technology so it’s a good time to give you more training to take things to the next level. 

How do I make the most of my hardware to better manage nutrient application?

Once you’re up and running, we can apply the right PNM strategy to save costs on inputs and make life easier.

Your ISOBUS connection will have your equipment talking to your Trimble hardware and software, automatically populating all your information onto the Trimble Display screen. This means you don’t have to have multiple screens for everything in the cab! 

Autosteer will have the tractor automatically follow the GPS to make sure you’re applying nutrients precisely and avoid overapplication (and overpaying for nutrients). 

By unlocking variable rate application, you’ll see a map that changes colour that shows exactly where nutrients are needed and not needed. Once unlocked, the technology will automatically apply nutrients in each paddock based on your map – meaning you’re only applying where it’s needed – reducing the amount of product you’re using and your risk of product leaching. We work with all nutrient management companies to enable variable rate application nationwide.

Vantage NZ can help with making variable rate application maps using a large range of data layers, including satellite imagery, grid or zonal soil sampling, and if required UAV imagery. 

Really, we customise each PNM solution to the customer and their goals, so it’s all about having a chat with us to figure out what best suits your business from the outset.

Find out more about PNM here or get in touch with your local rep at Vantage NZ.

Manage your nutrient application with precision

What’s the biggest issue we’re hearing in the agricultural industry at the moment? The truth is it’s three-fold: 

  • Costs on inputs are rising – particularly on sprays, fertilizer, and seed
  • Nitrogen caps – our customers are adjusting their practice to meet caps on nutrient inputs to meet regulation
  • Productivity – improving ROI by ensuring the best yield of plant and pasture growth

Key to meeting all three of these challenges is precision nutrient management (PNM). To manage your nutrients efficiently – reduce input costs, meet environmental regulation, and increase yield – you first need some good data. 

Getting your soil nutrients measured is an important step helping you to utilise PNM strategies. A soil test will tell you where your soil has high and low nutrient load, allowing you to use variable rate application to apply your nutrients only where they’re needed. This improves your environmental footprint while ensuring your farm is reaching its maximum potential. 

High nutrient load

The areas of your paddocks that have high nutrient load already have enough nutrients to support upcoming crop or pasture growth. That means there’s no, or at least significantly reduced, need to spread fertiliser! Using a blanket rate application, you’d be spreading unneeded fertiliser, wasting money and risking a higher chance of over-application and leaching. Although it’s not required for your Farm Environmental Plan, minimising nutrient input helps your case in showing your commitment to meeting environmental regulations.

Low nutrient load

Areas of low nutrient load in your paddocks don’t have the required nutrients to support crop and pasture growth. This is a missed opportunity, as these areas aren’t reaching their full yield potential! When applying blanket rate fertiliser, these areas may not get enough nutrients – meaning they could be producing more toward your bottom line. 

Precision Nutrient Management

Employing a PNM strategy allows you to reduce nutrient application in areas with high nutrient load and increase application in areas with low nutrient load. With this precision ag data, you can ensure that each area of the paddock is getting the nutrients it needs to ensure maximum yield. This keeps you as environmentally friendly as possible while maximising your ROI. 

Most of our clients who utilise PNM pay for their soil tests in their lime savings alone – every other nutrient saving is an added bonus to your bottom line. 

On top of that, it’s helpful to have precision data to add to your FEP, showing your compliance with environmental regulation. 

Take the guesswork out of farm nutrient management and stop blanket rate application. Talk to the team at Vantage NZ today about Precision Nutrient Management.

Soil – the key to balancing profit & environmental regulation

Soil affects everything in agriculture – from seed to irrigation, fertiliser and herbicide use, to the ultimate goal of food and fibre growth. One thing we know about soil is that it’s variable – it changes from one point of your property to the next. That means knowing your soil’s unique properties across the farm is key to effectively managing your inputs and maximising profitability.  

Continue reading

Trimble RTX Beam Transition

Attention

There is Trimble RTX satellite beam transition happening in New Zealand, which will require you to change your frequency and baud rate on your GNSS receiver before September 30, 2021. 

This affects all GNSS receivers using CenterPoint RTX, FieldPoint RTX, RangePoint RTX, ViewPoint RTX and xFill correction services.

We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this change, however it allows us to continue to make enhancements to our RTX correction services. The new satellite beam, RTXPA, will be available on August 2nd, 2021 with 8 weeks of dual operational period. This means the new satellite beam will run 8 weeks in parallel with the current RTXAP satellite beam.

We encourage you to change your settings as soon as the new satellite is available using the instructions you can find at

What is changing? 
Trimble RTX is being moved to a new satellite beam, RTXPA. You will no longer receive correction data from the current RTXAP satellite (1539.8325 Mhz, 600 baud) after September 30, 2021. Please change the frequency and baud rate on your GNSS receivers to use the new RTXPA satellite (1545.2725MHz, 1200baud) as soon as possible after the second of August.

When is it happening?
The new RTXPA satellite beam will be available starting on August 2nd, 2021. The old RTXAP satellite will stop broadcasting correction data on September 30, 2021.

How will I continue to receive GNSS corrections after this change?

You need to manually input the frequency and baud rate for the RTXPA satellite beam:
● Within the Trimble RTX settings on your GNSS receiver, change the RTX satellite by manually entering the frequency and baud rate for the RTXPA satellite, shown in the table below.
● Instructions are available at trimble.com/sat Satellite Beam Frequency (MHz) Baud Rate (bps) RTXPA 1545.2725 1200

For more information:
Get in touch with any of our Vantage NZ Trimble Hardware Specialists

Russell Van de Laak: 021 874 622
Wade Riley: 021 874 602
Cam Burmeister: 027 261 0708
Shane Blampied: 027 380 5332
Daniel Magill: 027 547 4747

Or you can go directly to the Trimble Customer Care team who is standing by to help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

New Zealand:
Phone +64 3 354 9195
Toll Free 0800 888 864
Email nz_corrections@trimble.com 

2021 Zimmatic Trail Blazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards

The 2021 Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards is now on and entries are open!
 
The Awards celebrate excellence and recognises New Zealand farmers demonstrating leadership in water management and environmental stewardship. The judges are looking for steps taken to ensure sustainable water use on farm and an obvious passion for protecting one of our most precious natural resources. They had an overwhelming response from farmers last year in terms of entry numbers. This year, they would like to invite you to lend your support and help us build on this success.
 
Please help us spread the word through your own networks and encourage farmers in your area to enter themselves or nominate someone else that they think is deserving. You may even have friends or neighbours who are worthy of being nominated. If so, please put their name forward! This year’s competition is open to New Zealand farmers who irrigate more than 25ha.

The online entry and nomination process is simple, just visit the Awards website irrigationtrailblazer.com and click the red links on the home page to access the appropriate form. You can find out what impressed our judges last year in our two part leading submission summary; click here for Part 1 and Part 2. We hope this provides you with some insight into why the leading entrants from the 2020 awards caught the judging panels eye!

 

Soil Moisture Probe Site Servicing

Soil Moisture Probe Site Service

 

Servicing your soil moisture probe sites gives your telemetry the best chance at performing well – and is a service we offer! As seen below, these are common problems our technicians come across in the field; pugging, chewed cables, and blocked rain gauges. Whether you use your data to guide your decisions on farm or you simply rely on your data for auditing and compliance purposes, these issues won’t be helping your case.

Our soil moisture site service includes a rain gauge calibration, because over time being exposed to the elements, things can change. If you feel that your rain gauge data is out of line, we are more than happy to calibrate it for you. We also check over the quality of data your probe is creating to ensure that it is settled and as accurate as possible. Whilst on site, an assessment of the surroundings is taken to see whether moving the probe would be beneficial, that solar panels are facing north, no pugging has occurred, and that rain gauges aren’t blocked. An annual soil moisture report is then crafted up by one of the technicians for you to keep and reflect over for the coming months. Any further advice required will be also given.