Importance of Soil Moisture Monitoring and Its Application in Wheat - growing Area

Soil moisture monitoring is of great necessity. Firstly, moisture determines the survival of crops. Soil moisture monitoring can keep track of soil moisture in real - time, ensuring the survival of crops. When there is a lack of water, irrigation can be carried out in a timely manner, and when there is too much water, drainage can be done promptly. Secondly, different crops and growth stages have different requirements for moisture. Monitoring soil moisture can accurately understand these requirements. For example, during critical periods such as wheat filling, rice filling, soybean pod - filling, and fruit expansion, sufficient moisture can be ensured to guarantee yield and quality. Thirdly, it can guide the layout of agricultural production. Areas with rainfall exceeding 400 millimeters are suitable for planting, while areas with little rain and lack of irrigation are more suitable for the development of animal husbandry. Monitoring can be used to select appropriate production methods and crop varieties accordingly. Finally, insufficient moisture severely affects yield, especially during the critical period of fruit growth. Soil moisture monitoring can detect water shortage problems in time and take measures to reduce losses.

In a large - scale wheat - growing area in North China, water resources are relatively scarce, and the rational use of irrigation water is of crucial importance.

Local farms have chosen to install soil moisture monitoring stations based on Time - Domain Reflectometry (TDR) technology. Multiple monitoring stations have been set up at different positions and soil depths in the wheat fields to monitor the soil moisture content in real - time. These stations can accurately transmit soil humidity data to the farm's management center.

Through continuous monitoring of soil moisture, farm managers can accurately formulate irrigation plans based on the water - requirement laws of wheat at different growth stages and the monitored soil moisture content. For example, during the wheat - filling stage, when the monitored soil humidity drops to the lower limit of the appropriate range, the irrigation system is turned on in a timely manner to maintain the soil humidity at the optimal level. This not only ensures the yield and quality of wheat but also reduces the amount of irrigation water by approximately 30% compared with traditional empirical irrigation methods, greatly improving the utilization efficiency of water resources.