SOIL SURFACE MOISTURE MEASUREMENT OR SENSING

[Stephen W. Smith <swsmith@AQUAENGR.COM>]

[Originally posted to IRL (apologies for cross-posting)]

"Stephen W. Smith" <swsmith@AQUAENGR.COM> writes 

List Subscribers:

We are working on a project involving the re-establishment
of native grasses on a large Colorado site.  It is difficult
to successfully establish native grass in this area and very
dependent on first season precipitation.  Fortunately, we
can apply some supplemental irrigation (via solid set,
sideroll, or linear move sprinklers) to increase the first
season germination success.

We expect to apply four นไ irrigations in the first two
weeks with greater, less frequent, applications afterwards.
A six inch total application is anticipated over 3 months.

Our water source is very, very limited and costly.  If the
profile were deeper, as in the case of most established
crops, we would utilize the water balance method to predict
when to irrigate.

Are there recommendations from this group concerning soil
moisture measurements or sensing at essentially the soil
surface?

Thanks in advance for your response,

Stephen Smith
Aqua Engineering, Inc.
Fort Collins, Colorado