Subsoil moisture levels have improved for 2021 crop production.

Iowa State University has completed their spring survey of subsoil moisture in northwest Iowa, says Paul Kassel, ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist located in Spencer.  The amount of subsoil moisture is sampled in the fall and spring in six northwest Iowa counties.

Soil moisture is sampled to a depth of five foot in one-foot increments at six different pre-determined locations.  Soil moisture samples are weighed wet, dried for 48 hours and weighed dry.  Soil moisture is reported in inches of plant available moisture after calculations account for plant available and plant unavailable moisture. This soil moisture information is based on actual soil samples.