 The ISWS Water and
Atmospheric Resources Monitoring program, known as WARM, records
moisture and temperatures of six layers of soil every hour at 19
sites across the state. Current records show that in the 0- to
6-inch soil layer, moisture values ranged from 80 percent of normal
at Stelle to 114 percent at Springfield. The 6- to 20-inch layer was
slightly wetter; deeper layers were wet in eastern Illinois, but
drier in the central and southwestern parts of the state.
Typically, soil moisture in the type of soils common to most parts
of Illinois recharges all fall and winter and responds quickly to
spring rains.
"In Illinois, it is quite rare to enter a growing season with dry
soils," Scott said.
Soil moisture tends to decrease once crops have emerged. By
summer, moisture levels decrease even more due to evaporation and
plants using the water to thrive.
Soil temperatures must be at least 50 degrees F for corn and
soybean seeds to germinate. Soil surface temperatures vary less than
air temperatures and on average are slower to warm to the optimal
temperatures.
Daily soil moisture and temperature readings indicate how much
water is available for crops and show the progression of rising
temperatures across the state. With an eye on the calendar, crop
producers use this information to determine the best time to start
planting. WARM produces daily soil temperature maps for Illinois and
monthly soil moisture reports at
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/warm/.
___
The Illinois State Water
Survey, a division of the Institute of Natural Resource
Sustainability at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is
the primary agency in Illinois concerned with water and atmospheric
resources.
[Text from file received from
the Illinois
State Water Survey]
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