In a noteworthy achievement at the National Agronomy, Crop, and Soils Meeting in St. Louis, the New Mexico State University (NMSU) poster presentation titled "Comparison of Remote Soil Moisture Sensing Methods," has been awarded first place in the graduate student poster contest, surpassing over 50 competing presentations. 

The poster presentation was authored by Tatiana Kardashina, NMSU graduate student, presenter and first author, as well as Borys Drach, mechanical and aerospace engineering associate professor, Ciro Velasco-Cruz, Extension plant sciences research assistant professor, and Bernd Leinauer, NMSU Regents Professor and extension turfgrass specialist. 

Funded by the United States Golf Association, the work represents a collaborative initiative between the departments of Extension Plant Sciences in the NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering. 

The first results of research investigating the accuracy of soil moisture sensors, whether installed on an earth-orbiting satellite or a golf course fairway mower, were summarized in the presentation. 

The inquiry centered around the potential of these technologies to aid turfgrass managers in making informed decisions about the irrigation needs of golf courses. The ultimate goal is to positively impact water conservation efforts.