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| Photo by Jessica Salmond |
COLUMBIA,
Mo. – It may not look it, but many Missouri fields are hiding a deep, dry
secret.
University
of Missouri soil scientist Randy Miles said dried-out subsoil at depths of 3
feet or more could trouble next year’s crops in Missouri even if there is
plenty of moisture in the topsoil.
“For
crops like corn it’s not uncommon for roots to extend down 5-6 feet, and it’s
the soil moisture there that sustains the crop in the latter part of the
growing season,” Miles said. “When we have this deficit of moisture at that
depth, we may not get grain fill to the extent of the plant’s potential to
perform.”
This
moisture shortfall isn’t likely to change soon.
