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Cattle Herd

Soil Moisture Determination

Soil core sample

Use the following table when determining soil moisture levels by hand. Know your soil type (see the Maps in your DNMP for soils information) and pick an area that is representative of the entire field. Measure the soil moisture from the top 6 inches of the soil profile. Take a representative handful and gently squeeze it into a ball in your hand. Follow the descriptive guidelines on the following table to determine the soil moisture %. This might take some practice, so having a method of verification (soil moisture determination equipment) the first few times is recommended. Replication of this process is recommended at multiple locations in each field.

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