Yuma County Cooperative Extension Office
2200 w 28th St.
Yuma, AZ
The Southwest is in the grips of a record drought. One way we can conserve water is to measure soil moisture and use that information to decide when to irrigate. Often times the soil surface will look dry and crusty, but just below the surface be completely saturated, making the grower think the ground is dry when it is really doing just fine. Measuring subsurface moisture requires a probe or meter or some kind, We will be constructing tensiometer style moisture meters using the DIY method 'ten-minute tensiometers' developed by UC-ANR Farm Advisor Dr. Michael Cahn, from Salinas.
Parts for 20 units were graciously donated by the Desert Control Company We will assemble the units together with other attendees and discuss installation, upkeep, and best-use practices. The event will culminate in a free raffle, where attendees have a chance to win their very own DIY moisture meter.
