Plant growth depends on many factors, but one of the most important is soil moisture — the amount of water in the soil that plants can actually use. Too little moisture causes plants to enter stress and reduces yield potential, while excessive moisture limits nutrient uptake and makes fieldwork difficult or even impossible.
To help farmers monitor soil moisture conditions across their region, Paul-Tech has developed a soil moisture map based on real-time measurements collected by our soil stations.
How Soils Change Over Time
One of the greatest strengths of the soil moisture map is the time dimension it provides. Real-time measurements make it possible to see when soils have been drier or wetter, whether moisture levels have risen or fallen in recent days, and how soils respond to rainfall, freezing and thawing, or sudden weather shifts. This context helps farmers judge whether a change is temporary or part of a longer trend that could already influence crop performance.
What Soil Moisture Values Actually Mean
Soil moisture values are shown on a scale that reflects how much water the soil contains and how available it is to plants. Values below 5 indicate very dry soil, where plants may be close to wilting and experiencing stress. The range between 8 and 20 represents optimal moisture, where plants grow actively and absorb nutrients most efficiently. When soil moisture levels rise above 20, the soil is already close to field capacity, and values above 25 indicate clear waterlogging. A colour scale makes these differences easy to interpret: green signals optimal moisture, yellow to red tones reflect dry conditions, and blue shades highlight areas with excess water.
How the Soil Moisture Map Supports Daily Decisions
The soil moisture map is a practical tool that supports a wide range of decisions. During dry periods, it helps identify when moisture levels are falling to a point where plants face the risk of stress. During wet periods, the map offers early warning when soils are too saturated for effective fertilisation, as nutrients may leach into deeper layers. Soil moisture information also helps plan fieldwork and avoid situations where machinery enters ground that cannot carry the load.
Why Soil Moisture Matters in Winter
Even though winter is not an active fieldwork period, soil moisture information remains valuable. The map shows when soils freeze or thaw, how often freeze–thaw cycles occur, and how moisture behaves during the off-season. These patterns affect winter survival and provide an early indication of what to expect once the growing season begins.
As spring approaches, soil moisture levels become even more important. Very wet soils after thawing often cannot support machinery without causing damage to the soil structure. Monitoring how quickly soils begin to dry helps determine when fields become workable and in what order tasks should start — especially on larger farms where soil types and drainage vary.
Conclusion
Paul-Tech’s soil moisture map brings real-time measurements together with agronomic insight, giving farmers a clear and reliable overview of both short-term changes and long-term trends. It helps identify risks early, understand the current condition of the soil, and make better decisions throughout the entire season — from winter preparation to crop harvest. By making soil moisture visible, farmers can make decisions based on knowledge rather than guesswork.