• Introduction
• Recent Soil Moisture Monitoring observations (from 12 April)
• Speedo assessments - change in overall soil moisture at a particular site
• Speedo soil moisture graphs
  • Mallee
  • Wimmera
  • North Central
  • North East
  • Gippsland cropping
  • South West

The soil moisture monitoring project, with the use of underground probes, provides real-time soil water content data to Victoria’s farmers.
Monitoring sites have been set up in cropping regions throughout the state by Agriculture Victoria.

The sites record soil water content at one source point from 30 centimetres down to one metre as a reference point for a paddock.

To access information provided in the graphs, log onto the new Agriculture Victoria soil moisture monitoring dashboard.

No login or passwords are required, and speedos are automatically updated and will represent the most recent rainfall effects.

Figure 1: March rainfall deciles for Victoria

It was wetter over the majority of the state at decile eight to nine, with storm cells in early March creating some decile ten rainfall. Just a small area of coastal west Gippsland was drier. Annual germination occurred in many areas with over 25 millimetres of rain but was looking parched following limited follow up rain.

Figure 2: Monthly rainfall percentages for March

Darker green and blue areas had opportunities to bank moisture in March from rain that fell at the start of the month.

Figure 3. April rainfall (month to date - 13 April) for Victoria

Dry early start to April.

Figure 4. Rainfall totals 18 April for Victoria

Autumn breaking rains were experienced in many districts on 18 April and stopped the run of dry days for the month.  While the impacts of this rain are still be analysed and have not been documented in this report, the next update will provide those details or click on the dashboard.

To observe the rainfall continuing into 19 April, please click
 

Soil moisture measurements collected by Agriculture Victoria in the past five months show there have been some opportunities to build a soil moisture profile since late spring.  This has been in the months of November and January. Isolated storm cells in March impacted different parts of the state but districts that received this rain would have provided further opportunity to build moisture reserves.

Lower rainfall districts with two months’ of 8 - 10 decile rainfall in the past five months with good weed control will have profiles well set up for the 2022 cropping season. Further rain in early March raised confidence levels.

There is still a range of low/moderate deep soil moisture conditions in the Mallee and patches that are moderate/high. Wimmera is moderate.
Central Victoria and North East Victoria have moderate/high soil moisture conditions and some areas have a full profile.

This report predominantly represents conditions mid April but as it is being finished (19 April), cropping areas are receiving good soaking rains and the winter crop sowing program will intensify following this break.

Note -  use extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring to monitor the changes to the sites relevant to you inbetween the next reporting period and following rain events

Werrimull stacked individual soil moisture graph – 2021/2022 view

January rain moved down to 50 centimetres and March rain infiltrated down to 90 centimetres.

Ouyen stacked individual soil moisture graph – 2022 view

Moisture has moved down to 70 centimetres following January and early March rain.

There has been a 15 per cent moisture increase to the residual moisture in the past five months.

Some residual moisture was left at depth after the vetch hay crop last year.  Rain at the end of January and early March has improved the moisture profile by 10 per cent with moisture wetting down to 40 centimetres.

Rainfall was beneficial in late November to add to the soil moisture, but there have been no changes over the summer period. With a vetch hay background, other cereal grain paddocks would be drier at depth.

There have been two periods where moisture infiltration has been observed after rain events in late November and late January.

Please follow the link to the soil moisture monitoring dashboard to obtain the most recent changes with the 18 April rain event in the Wimmera.

There have been some small increases to soil moisture during the past five months. Please follow the link to the soil moisture monitoring dashboard to obtain the most recent changes with the 18 April rain event in the Wimmera at Taylors Lake.

Moisture has moved down to 60 centimetres in the past five months and there has been an overall increase of 42 per cent moisture.

Like many central Victorian sites, decile 8 - 10 rainfall in January contributed to building the bank of soil moisture with additional benefits from March rain. There has been a 35 per cent moisture increase in the past five months, setting the district up with high cropping confidence this season.

Youanmite stacked individual soil moisture graph – 2022 view

Rain early March produced moisture infiltration down to one metre and now all sensors are at 100 per cent moisture. There is a high risk of waterlogging this season.

The Giffard West site in East Gippsland was part of the area receiving significant early April rain while the rest of the state was dry.  Rain following a wet March has lifted moisture profiles over 50 per cent and is now wet at all sensor depths.

There have been some small moisture increases during January and March and the profile has lifted from two at the start of summer to 14 per cent.