Tuesday, May 7, 2013

May 7th Soil Temperature Measurements


This morning between 7:45 and 8:30 I took two soil temperature measurements in some area potential cotton fields.  Cool and somewhat cloudy days seem to be holding soil temps down somewhat and extending the effects of the recent cold front last week.  The area also experienced some driblets of rain last evening and night that may have aided in holding temps lower than I would have estimated this morning but did not provide much soil moisture. 

·         51°F.  Halfway Experiment Station, Halfway, Texas / Potential cotton / recently heavily irrigated and wet topsoil / plowed / furrow irrigated.

·         60°F.  Two miles southwest of Hale Center, Texas / Potential cotton / fairly dry topsoil / plowed / under pivot.

I would expect that with a few warm sunny days soil temperatures should rebound fairly quickly toward our minimum soil temp for planting cotton (68°F).  A decent chance of rain is in the forecast for this week and weekend.  Showers may prolong any warming trend, but without another major cold front expected, once soils reach a warm state, they should at least remain at or near our base acceptable soil temperatures. 

Please call if I can help,

Blayne

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