1. Is there a problem here? Practical uses for soil moisture sensors on the ranch and farm Julie A. Finzel UCCE Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor Kern, Tulare, and Kings Counties

2. Background The problem The solution What could you do with this sort of information?

3. Results

4. Results

5. 2014 Precipitation DateInchesTotal 10/8/20130.08 11/22/20130.010.09 1/31/20140.140.23 2/28/20140.580.81 3/1/20140.541.35 3/2/20140.131.48 3/3/20140.011.49 4/2/20140.031.52 5/7/20140.21.72 5/21/20140.282 5/22/20140.132.13 5/23/20140.222.35 7/16/20140.622.97 7/21/20140.333.3

6. Results

7. Comparing Years 201120122014 InchesLbs/acreInchesLbs/acreInchesLbs/acre 8.0 526 2.932801.72185 as of 5/31 as of 5/7

8. What do we know? Timing Temperature Provides objective information for decision making

9. Precision Irrigation Two big questions o When? o How much? Measure water potential Measure soil moisture Benefits o Apply the amount of water needed…no more…no less ($ saved) o 5 – 10% Increase in production ($ earned)

10. Soil Moisture Sensors What could you do with this ‘tool’ in your toolbox?

11. UC Web Resources UCCE Livestock and Natural Resources Webpage o http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCCE_LR/ http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCCE_LR/ Rangeland Watershed Research Laboratory o http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/ http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/ California Rangelands Webpage o http://californiarangeland.ucdavis.edu/ http://californiarangeland.ucdavis.edu/ Julie’s webpage o http://cekern.ucanr.edu/Livestock/ http://cekern.ucanr.edu/Livestock/

12. Weather Resources NRCS SCAN site o http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/scan/ http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/scan/ Bishop Airport NOAA Site o http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=v ef&sid=KBIH&num=72&raw=0 http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=v ef&sid=KBIH&num=72&raw=0

13. Thank You for Your Time!