ABSTRACT
Yet, soil moisture management is not simply a matter of there being adequate inputs of water into the soil from precipitation or irrigation. Soil moisture is part of the ecology of the soil and of the whole agroecosystem. Water availability and retention is affected by a myriad of factors and water itself plays many roles. It carries soluble nutrients, affects soil aeration and temperature, and impacts soil biotic processes. A farmer, therefore, must be aware of how water acts in the soil, how water levels in the soil are affected by weather conditions and cropping practices, how inputs of water affect soil moisture, and what the water needs of the crop are.
