Soil moisture

Soil moisture

Drier than average soils in much of the South Island

Soil moisture levels reduced more quickly than normal for November in the east of the South Island and much of Otago. At the end of the month, mid Canterbury and Otago were drier than at the same time last year. Moisture levels in Northland soils were also lower than normal. Much of Taranaki was wetter than average.

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