Soil moisture

Dry spots linger

Soil moisture levels in eastern regions of the South Island, in North and Central Otago, and in parts of the north and east of the North Island remained lower than normal at the end of April. Southland soils, and western parts of the North Island, were wetter than at the same time last year.

 

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