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The following protocols are all related to soil moisture and temperature. Students will use a simple procedure to measure soil moisture. They will weigh a soil sample, dry it out, and weigh it again. (wet weight - dry Weight) = water weight 1. Gravimetric Soil Moisture Protocol The difference in weight is the moisture in the soil before it was dried out.   2. Infiltration Another protocol measures the rate water flows into the soil (infiltration). This protocol uses two concentric cans.   3. Soil Temperature Soil temperature is measured using a short dial or digital probe thermometer.   The Soil Moisture Study Site(s) should be unirrigated, uniform, relatively undisturbed, and safe for digging.   Frequency of Measurements: Soil moisture should be measured every three weeks during the school year. (If your school is year round and measurements will continue during the whole year, measurements should be done once a month.) Soil temperature should be measured once per week. The temperature should be done at the same time of day as the soil moisture protocols, one hour within solar noon. Soil infiltration should be done three times during the school year.

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