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Soil moisture probe

Land
ACT NRM

Summary

ACT Natural Resource Management (ACT NRM) has installed a permanent soil moisture probe in the Tidbinbilla Valley, ACT. It joins a network of more than 20 farm-based probes across the Southern Tablelands, Monaro, South West slopes and the South Coast.

Background

Farmers rely on soil probes as necessary tools for making crucial decisions regarding their stock and pasture management. These tools help them gather critical data about soil moisture and nutrient levels, which is particularly important in districts where rainfall patterns and soil characteristics can vary. By using this information, farmers can improve their plans to keep their crops and animals healthy, which boosts their productivity and helps the environment.

Project goals

  • Support farmers by providing accessible soil moisture data.
  • Join a network of more than 20 farm-based probes.

Project details

The Tidbinbilla Soil Moisture Probe records accurate rainfall to the nearest 0.2mm, soil temperature and soil moisture to a depth of 1 metre. The soil moisture data generated by the probe is a relative measure of soil moisture.

In addition to enabling landholders to look at this data across the region and over time, Local Land Services, with help from Phil Graham, former Yass DPI expert, takes the soil moisture and rainfall data and inputs it into the CSIRO Grassgro computer program. This program produces a range of different scenarios for pasture production, in particular in Spring and Autumn in the district in which each soil moisture probe is located. This information is available online and can be used by landholders to manage pastures, groundcover and stock and to plan for the future.

Project partners

The network of more than 20 farm-based probes is administered by the South East Local Land Services, Tablelands Farming Systems and Monaro Farming Systems and ACT NRM.

More information