Some of the most valuable data collected in TAPS isn’t visible from the soil surface.

This week, TAPS researchers Rayhaan Kabenge and Maxwell Tumwesige, K-State graduate students, installed neutron probe access tubes in the research plots. These tubes are a critical component of the data collection system used throughout the growing season to monitor soil water conditions deep within the crop root zone.

While rainfall totals and irrigation applications tell part of the story, understanding how much water remains available in the soil helps researchers better evaluate crop performance and management decisions.

A neutron probe is one of the most accurate tools available for measuring soil moisture. The probe is lowered into permanently installed access tubes and uses neutron scattering technology to estimate the amount of water present at multiple depths in the soil profile. At KSU-TAPS, measurements are collected to a depth of eight feet, helping researchers understand where water is stored and how quickly crops are using it throughout the season.

The information gathered from neutron probes serves several important purposes. Researchers use the data to quantify root-zone water availability, estimate crop water use through evapotranspiration calculations, and evaluate how irrigation decisions influence crop performance. Combined with weather data, crop measurements, and participant management decisions, the information helps create a more complete picture of what is happening both above and below ground.

That matters because water is often the most limiting resource facing producers across the High Plains. Understanding how crops respond to different irrigation strategies is essential for improving water-use efficiency while maintaining productivity and profitability.

The TAPS competition is designed to challenge participants to make real-world management decisions involving irrigation, fertility, technology adoption, and risk management. Neutron probe data helps provide the scientific foundation behind those decisions, ensuring outcomes can be evaluated using more than yield alone.

From installing access tubes in the field to collecting measurements throughout the season, this behind-the-scenes work helps transform TAPS from a competition into a living laboratory where farmers, researchers, students, and industry partners can learn together.

Better decisions start with better data—and some of the most important data is found beneath the surface.