(Newswire.net — March 25, 2015) Toronto — Dr. Roger Pulwarty, the director of the National Integrated Drought Information System recently said “It is probably it is one of the most innovative interagency tools on the planet.”; while describing the development of a coordinated National Soil Moisture Network.
However, the words flood and drought are the words that Americans hear almost on a daily basis. The main factor of determining climate change, hydrology, water supply, crop yields or flood potential is through soil moisture. According to the Ag Outlook Forum, that was recently held in Suburban Washington DC., Dr. Michael Strobel who is the director at USDA’s National Water And Climate Center mentioned the plans and importance for national soil moisture monitoring systems and pilot system that will give way for a more complex soil testing system than simply testing the soil at certain fixed points at regular intervals.
This system combines both remote sensing and models, which includes satellite data with an aim of developing national soil moisture monitoring product.
The regional pilot project is concentrated in North Texas and Oklahoma and encompasses surrounding states and areas. The goal includes benefits to a broad range of users, demonstrating its usefulness, and receiving real time soil monitoring, including producers and finding ways to leverage the full variety existing modeling and network efforts.
Dr. Strobel stated the tool is not just in the Texas A&M North American Soil Moisture Database but also the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s microwave and thermal infrared observations, NASA’s recent launch of a soil moisture active/passive satellite, and the University of Arizona’s Cosmic Ray-Soil Moisture Observing System.
According to Dr. Strobel words, the testing is just beginning; however, he is hoping that the product can be ready in the market by the end of summer. At the end, it can be a part of a producer’s toolbox. The results received from the national Soil Moisture Network will Be for all farmers and landowners to access the information on soil moisture related to their specific location. All this data will be available through a computer and the information will be in real time.
This will not only help improve their practices, but also help in improving soil health by providing other tools to farm management with great crossover opportunities for water distribution product.
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Whizable’s Gary Pooler is an active researcher in the soil quality and water distribution field. He is currently testing the Clear Flow Water Hose which just launched in the USA and could revolutionize the agricultural niche.