Comparison of Measured and Predicted Soil Moisture Deficits

Summary The moisture regimes of two fen soils and two chalk soils in Lincolnshire were investigated using a neutron probe moisture meter. Soil moisture deficits were calculated and compared with those predicted using meteorological data. Measured deficits were in fairly close agreement to those predicted by two separate models, the main variation seeming to depend upon the dryness of the year, the crop and the soil type. Measured deficits were also compared with laboratory estimates of available water and it was found that the chalk soils dried to higher suctions than was at first expected.