Here is an update on beginning soil moisture status. The left charts are as of 4/19/18 with the right charts being the previous week. You can click on the images to enlarge them. The ‘weekend moisture’ event I refer to was the blizzard 4/14/18.

Bladen: The top foot is now slowly losing moisture one week later in spite of some weekend moisture. The second-fourth feet are all above 50% depletion.

Byron: Some weekend moisture may have allowed the top foot to remain steady.  The second and third feet are both over 50% depletion bringing the total soil moisture in the 1-4′ depths closer to 50% depletion. There must have been a soil crack along my PVC pipe to allow for the moisture spike you see in 3 and 4 feet and not 1 and 2 foot depths.

Clay Center: This is still the wettest location in spite of the top foot slowly drying out this week.  The second foot is still below field capacity with third and fourth feet and total soil moisture relatively unchanged. Must have had a soil crack along PVC pipe for third foot for the quick dip observed.

Lawrence Corn Stubble: Minimal change was observed at this location this past week.  Essentially all feet remained the same in regards to soil moisture.  A small crack along PVC pipe must have been present at 3 foot for short dip observed there.

Lawrence Soybean Stubble: This location (across road from corn stubble) showing dryer than last week. Top two feet now dryer than field capacity which increased the total (1-3′) soil moisture depletion.

Superior: Weekend moisture may have allowed the top foot to stay steady (as was also seen in Byron).  However, the second, third, and fourth feet all lost moisture leaving the total soil moisture (1-4′) above 35% depleted at this location.