Conversion Tables for Automatic Soil Moisture Monitors: Shallow Rooted Crops
These tables convert the readings in centibars (cB) on automatic soil moisture monitors to inches of available water. Note that the tables are specific to soil type, crop root depth, and sensor depth. These tables are for shallow rooted crops, such as grains, with sensors buried at 8", 18", and 30".
How to Use These Tables:
- Look at the moisture level displayed on the screen, which will give a value in centibars (cB). Go down the left column of the table to the range in which that meter reading falls, and read across to the number under the "Sensor #1" heading. This number is the amount of available water in the 0-12" depth. Record this number.
- Repeat this process for each sensor.
- Now, add up the inches of available water for each sensor. This is the total water in the soil profile that is available to the crop. Adjust for rocks by reducing the total amount of water by the percentage of rocks in the soil. For example, if the soil contains 10% rock, reduce the total water by 10%.
- Divide this total by the current daily evapotranspiration (crop water use) value. This will be the number of days before the crop runs out of water. In other words, you should be done irrigating by this time.
Sandy Soils**This chart applies to SHALLOW rooted crops, such as grains, beets, and beans.**
**These numbers apply only to rock-free soils and must be adjusted for rock content.** |
| If the Reading (in centibars, cB) in the Upper Right Corner of the Soil Moisture Monitor is |
Sensor # 1
at 8" (Represents moisture content of the 0-12" depth) |
Sensor #2
at 18" (Represents moisture content of the 12-24" depth) |
Sensor #3
at 30" (Represents moisture content of the 24-36" depth) |
| 10 cB or Less |
You have 0.8" of water in the 0-12" depth
|
You have 0.8" of water in the 12-24" depth
|
You have 0.8" of water in the 24-36" depth
|
| 11-30 cB |
0.61"
|
0.61"
|
0.61"
|
| 31-50 cB |
0.36"
|
0.36"
|
0.36"
|
| 51-65 cB |
0.14"
|
0.14"
|
0.14"
|
| >65 cB |
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
Sandy Loam Soils**This chart applies to SHALLOW rooted crops, such as grains, beets, and beans.**
**These numbers apply only to rock-free soils and must be adjusted for rock content.** |
| If the Reading (in centibars, cB) in the Upper Right Corner of the Soil Moisture Monitor is |
Sensor # 1
at 8" (Represents moisture content of the 0-12" depth) |
Sensor #2
at 18" (Represents moisture content of the 12-24" depth) |
Sensor #3
at 30" (Represents moisture content of the 24-36" depth) |
| 10 cB or Less |
You have 1.4" of water in the 0-12" depth.
|
You have 1.4" of water in the 12-24" depth.
|
You have 1.4" of water in the 24-36" depth.
|
| 11-20 cB |
1.25"
|
1.25"
|
1.25"
|
| 21-30 cB |
1.05"
|
1.05"
|
1.05"
|
| 31-40 cB |
1.85"
|
1.85"
|
1.85"
|
| 41-50 cB |
0.6"
|
0.6"
|
0.6"
|
| 51-60 cB |
0.4"
|
0.4"
|
0.4"
|
| 61-70 cB |
0.2"
|
0.2"
|
0.2"
|
| 71 cB or More |
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
Sandy Loam/Clay Loam Soils**This chart applies to SHALLOW rooted crops, such as grains, beets, and beans.**
**These numbers apply only to rock-free soils and must be adjusted for rock content.** |
| If the Reading (in centibars, cB) in the Upper Right Corner of the Soil Moisture Monitor is |
Sensor # 1
at 8" (Represents moisture content of the 0-12" depth) |
Sensor #2
at 18" (Represents moisture content of the 12-24" depth) |
Sensor #3
at 30" (Represents moisture content of the 24-36" depth) |
| 10 cB or Less |
You have 1.9" of water in the 0-12" depth.
|
You have 1.9" of water in the 12-24" depth.
|
You have 1.9" of water in the 24-36" depth.
|
| 11-20 cB |
1.65"
|
1.65"
|
1.65"
|
| 21-30 cB |
1.45"
|
1.45"
|
1.45"
|
| 31-40 cB |
1.2"
|
1.2"
|
1.2"
|
| 41-50 cB |
1.0"
|
1.0"
|
1.0"
|
| 51-60 cB |
0.8"
|
0.8"
|
0.8"
|
| 61-70 cB |
0.55"
|
0.55"
|
0.55"
|
| 71-80 cB |
0.35"
|
0.35"
|
0.35"
|
| 81-85 cB |
0.15"
|
0.15"
|
0.15"
|
| 86 cB or More |
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
Loam Soils**This chart applies to SHALLOW rooted crops, such as grains, beets, and beans.**
**These numbers apply only to rock-free soils and must be adjusted for rock content.** |
| If the Reading (in centibars, cB) in the Upper Right Corner of the Soil Moisture Monitor is |
Sensor # 1
at 8" (Represents moisture content of the 0-12" depth) |
Sensor #2
at 18" (Represents moisture content of the 12-24" depth) |
Sensor #3
at 30" (Represents moisture content of the 24-36" depth) |
| 10cB or Less |
You have 1.8" of water in the 0-12" depth.
|
You have 1.8" of water in the 12-24" depth.
|
You have 1.8" of water in the 24-36" depth.
|
| 11-20 cB |
1.6"
|
1.6"
|
1.6"
|
| 21-30 cB |
1.3"
|
1.3"
|
1.3"
|
| 31-40 cB |
1.1"
|
1.1"
|
1.1"
|
| 41-50 cB |
0.9"
|
0.9"
|
0.9"
|
| 51-60 cB |
0.6"
|
0.6"
|
0.6"
|
| 61-70 cB |
0.4"
|
0.4"
|
0.4"
|
| 71-75 cB |
0.2"
|
0.2"
|
0.2"
|
| 76 cB or More |
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
Clay Soils**This chart applies to SHALLOW rooted crops, such as grains, beets, and beans.**
**These numbers apply only to rock-free soils and must be adjusted for rock content.** |
| If the Reading (in centibars, cB) in the Upper Right Corner of the Soil Moisture Monitor is |
Sensor # 1
at 8" (Represents moisture content of the 0-12" depth) |
Sensor #2
at 18" (Represents moisture content of the 12-24" depth) |
Sensor #3
at 30" (Represents moisture content of the 24-36" depth) |
| 10 cB or Less |
You have 2.1" of water in the 0-12" depth.
|
You have 2.1" of water in the 12-24" depth.
|
You have 2.1" of water in the 24-36" depth.
|
| 11-20 cB |
1.9"
|
1.9"
|
1.9"
|
| 21-30 cB |
1.65"
|
1.65"
|
1.65"
|
| 31-40 cB |
1.45"
|
1.45"
|
1.45"
|
| 41-50 cB |
1.2"
|
1.2"
|
1.2"
|
| 51-60 cB |
1.0"
|
1.0"
|
1.0"
|
| 61-70 cB |
0.75"
|
0.75"
|
0.75"
|
| 71-80 cB |
0.55"
|
0.55"
|
0.55"
|
| 81-90 |
0.3"
|
0.3"
|
0.3"
|
| 91-95cB |
0.15"
|
0.15"
|
0.15"
|
| 96 cB or More |
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
Gumbo Soils**This chart applies to SHALLOW rooted crops, such as grains, beets, and beans.**
**These numbers apply only to rock-free soils and must be adjusted for rock content.** |
| If the Reading (in centibars, cB) in the Upper Right Corner of the Soil Moisture Monitor is |
Sensor # 1
at 8" (Represents moisture content of the 0-12" depth) |
Sensor #2
at 18" (Represents moisture content of the 12-24" depth) |
Sensor #3
at 30" (Represents moisture content of the 24-36" depth) |
| 10 cB or Less |
You have 1.25" of water in the 0-12" depth.
|
You have 1.25" of water in the 12-24" depth.
|
You have 1.25" of water in the 24-36" depth.
|
| 11-20 cB |
1.1"
|
1.1"
|
1.1"
|
| 21-30 cB |
1.0"
|
1.0"
|
1.0"
|
| 31-40 cB |
0.9"
|
0.9"
|
0.9"
|
| 41-50 cB |
0.75"
|
0.75"
|
0.75"
|
| 51-60 cB |
0.6"
|
0.6"
|
0.6"
|
| 61-70 cB |
0.45"
|
0.45"
|
0.45"
|
| 71-80 cB |
0.3"
|
0.3"
|
0.3"
|
| 81-90 |
0.2"
|
0.2"
|
0.2"
|
| 91-95cB |
0.1"
|
0.1"
|
0.1"
|
| 96 cB or More |
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|
You have no water left.
|