To view real-time soil temperature and moisture readings across Kankakee County, click here!
ABOUT
In 2022, the Kankakee County SWCD began the Soil on Demand field project to provide farmers with local, real-time soil temperature and moisture readings. In 2023 we received funding and support through Compeer Financial's Fund for Rural America to continue and expand the project. In 2024, we are working to install sensors at 8 locations across Kankakee County.
At each location, 4 sensors have been installed. 2 sensors are buried within a field containing a cover crop, while the remaining 2 sensors are buried within a section of the same field without a cover crop. The soil sensors send moisture and temperature readings to a receiver, which sends data to an online hub. The image illustrates how each location is set up.
To view all soil data on the hub, visit soilscouts.fi/login and login with the username PUBLIC and password KankakeeSWCD.
To learn more about our project sites, including cover crop information, tillage information, and soil characteristics, click here.
PROJECT SITES
The yellow pins indicate the approximate locations where soil sensors are installed:
A. Rockville
B. Manteno
C. Pilot
D. Otto
E. Limestone
F. North Aroma
G. South Aroma
H. Pembroke
Site Characteristics
Soil on Demand sites were selected across Kankakee County to provide a holistic representation of soil types, cover crop species, and tillage practices.
A. Rockville Township, NW Kankakee County
Soil Type: silty clay loam
Cover Crop: cereal rye
Tillage Method:
C. Pilot Township, SW Kankakee County
Soil Type: clay loam
Cover Crop: cereal rye
Tillage Method:
E. Limestone Township, central Kankakee County
Soil Type: silt loam
Cover Crop: oats, radish, rapeseed, cereal rye
Tillage Method:
G. South Aroma Township, southern Kankakee County
Soil Type: clay loam
Cover Crop: cereal rye
Tillage Method:
B. Manteno Township, northern Kankakee County
Soil Type: silt loam
Cover Crop: cereal rye
Tillage Method:
D. Otto Township, SW Kankakee County
Soil Type: silt loam
Cover Crop: cereal rye
Tillage Method:
F. North Aroma Township, eastern Kankakee County
Soil Type: silt loam
Cover Crop: cereal rye
Tillage Method:
H. Pembroke Township, SE Kankakee County
Soil Type: fine sand
Cover Crop: cereal rye
Tillage Method:
PARTNERS
Thank you to the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the National Wildlife Federation, Compeer Financial, and our local Farmer Champions for making the Kankakee County Soil on Demand project possible.
