Soil moisture

Soil moisture

Soil moisture levels near average

For most of New Zealand, soil moisture levels were near the historic average. However, at the end of the month, much of Otago had less than 50% of normal storage. Some parts of Central Otago were particularly dry, with conditions similar to those of October 2002.

Soil moisture deficit in the pasture root zone at the end of October (right) compared with the deficit at the same time last year (centre) and the long-term end of October average (left). The analysis is done for an average soil type where the available water capacity is taken to be 150 mm.