With the arrival of spring, Illinois farmers are monitoring soil temperatures for decisions in the field. And the soil temperatures are on the rise. The ISWS Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program records soil temperatures at 4 and 8 inches under grass at 19 sites across the state. In addition, 4-inch bare soil temperatures […]
Tag: soil temperature
October Was Warm and Dry in Illinois
Precipitation For Illinois, the statewide average rainfall for October was 1.4 inches, 1.5 inches below normal or 48 percent of normal. This ranks as the 20th driest October on record. The largest monthly rainfall total was reported at Belvidere with 3.94 inches. See map below for rainfall departures across the state. While northern Illinois was […]
October Was Warm and Dry in Illinois
Precipitation For Illinois, the statewide average rainfall for October was 1.4 inches, 1.5 inches below normal or 48 percent of normal. This ranks as the 20th driest October on record. The largest monthly rainfall total was reported at Belvidere with 3.94 inches. See map below for rainfall departures across the state. While northern Illinois was […]
More on Soil Temperatures in Illinois
Here are the average dates in fall when the 4-inch soil temperature falls below 50 degrees (left panel) and below 60 degrees (right panel). Consider these as a “rule of thumb” for planning purposes. Consult the current soil temperatures, as discussed in the earlier post, for decisions on applying nitrogen in the fall.