Spatial variability of soil moisture in a prairie environment

Abstract

During the summer periods of 1974 and 1975 a soil moisture measurement program using neutron scattering techniques was under-taken on the 97 km2 Bad Lake Watershed. The primary purpose of this research was to obtain quantitative information on the spatial and temporal variability associated with the soil moisture regimes in a prairie watershed. The study considers the design of soil moisture networks. Network requirements are examined to determine the number of soil moisture measurement sites required to provide a reasonable estimate of soil moisture and of soil moisture changes at the Bad Lake Watershed. The use of primary and secondary networks is investigated.