ABSTRACT
Soil-water content is often the primary limiting factor for plant growth. Water is also the primary vehicle for moving plant nutrients and pesticides through and over soil to ground-and surface-water bodies. Conversely, the fate of water in soil is affected by many natural and management factors, such as soil texture and structure, presence or absence of plants, stage of plant growth, climate, rainfall intensity, tillage practices, residue covers, etc. These various factors are interactive, and their net effect continually changing in time and space. Until recently, soil water content measurements were made either by destructive soil sampling or by the use of portable neutron probes. Both methods were limited to fairly large time intervals (e.g., days, weeks). Capacitance probes and monitoring systems now provide the means to quantify soil water dynamics in real-time, at discrete soil depth increments, and over large areas, leading to improved soil and plant management practices, more efficient use of water and chemicals, and minimizing groundwater contamination.
