Water and nutrients in the soil determine how well plants grow and how much they yield. Climate change has made soil drought a major problem for farmers worldwide.
How do you get water and nutrients into the soil, and how do you keep them there? There are several levers: irrigation technology, mulch, green manure, soil conditioners and crop rotation.
Why soil moisture determines yield
Plants take up nutrients dissolved in water through their roots. Without enough moisture, neither nutrient uptake nor cell metabolism work properly. Moist soil supports root growth, photosynthesis and nutrient transport within the plant.
If the soil is too dry, water stress sets in. Growth stalls, leaf development suffers and plants wilt. Because nutrients dissolve in water, water shortage leads directly to nutrient shortage. The result is lower yields, poorer quality and less revenue.
Microorganisms that break down organic matter and release nutrients also work less well in dry soil. Checking soil moisture regularly lets you spot water demand early and act in time.
How to spot and assess soil drought
The most obvious sign is dry, cracked soil that urgently needs water. Next, look at the plant itself: wilting or curling leaves also point to a lack of soil moisture.
Professionals measure soil moisture with a sensor, which gives a more precise picture of how much irrigation the crop needs.
Drip and trickle irrigation
With drip irrigation, water goes straight to the root zone. Little of it evaporates, and it arrives where the plant takes it up.
With trickle irrigation, small drops fall evenly onto the soil right next to the plant. This suits crops with dense foliage.
Both methods cost money: material, installation, maintenance and a water connection. On large arable fields they rarely pay off, and without available water even the best system does not help.
Mulching keeps moisture in the soil
Straw, wood chips or compost on the surface slow evaporation. The mulch layer locks moisture into the soil and suppresses weeds as a side effect. Plants benefit from the available water for longer, and water use drops.
One thing to keep an eye on: depending on where compost or wood chips come from, pests and pathogens can reach the soil or the plant. Pay attention to the quality of the material.
Cover crops and green manure
Cover crops grow between two main crops. They cover the soil, reduce evaporation and improve soil structure at the same time.
Green manure plants are grown specifically to improve the soil. They add organic matter and improve water retention and structure.
The same applies to every crop: it takes nutrients out of the soil. If you return nothing or too little, the soil becomes depleted over the years. That is why every measure belongs together with a current soil analysis that shows what is actually missing.
Organic matter and soil conditioners
Compost, manure or leaves worked into the soil improve structure and increase water-holding capacity. Organic material also feeds microorganisms, which in turn support plant growth.
Here, too: depending on where the material comes from, pests and pathogens can reach the soil and the plant.
Instead of compost, ready-made blends can be worked in. They keep moisture and nutrients in the soil and support soil life.
How PowerGelee works
PowerGelee is a water-storing granule with high-quality active soil conditioners. We put together your individual blend based on your soil analysis, so your soil gets what it lacks.
With a half-life of about five years, the blend works for several seasons and saves field operations. We do not apply it on the surface but right at the root, where the plant can access water and nutrients directly.
The blend is not a fertiliser. It consists of high-quality soil conditioners and water-storing granules.
Crop rotation and diverse cropping
A suitable crop rotation lowers a field’s water demand and preserves soil moisture. Alternate crops with deep and shallow root systems; this also benefits plant health and growth.
Keeping soil moist: the measures at a glance
Climate change and new regulations make it more important to limit soil drought. Check moisture regularly and combine the measures that suit your farm:
- Water-storing granules with high-quality active soil conditioners such as PowerGelee, matched to the soil analysis
- Organic matter from compost, manure or leaves, watch the quality
- Cover crops and green manure
- Mulch from straw, wood chips or compost, watch the quality
- Rotation with deep- and shallow-rooted crops
- Drip or trickle irrigation right at the root
Compost, manure, leaves, straw and wood chips call for caution: depending on where they come from, pests, pathogens or weed seeds travel with them onto your field. Check the quality before working in larger amounts.
Current soil moisture data
Two public services show how dry the soil currently is in Germany:
- German Drought Monitor, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): drought status of topsoil and total soil, updated daily
- Soil moisture viewer, German Meteorological Service (DWD): soil moisture by crop, soil type and depth (in German)