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Published on 08/10/99

Severe Drought Returns to Georgia

Soil Moisture in Georgia
ÿ August 6, 1999 August 7, 1998 5-Year Avg.
ÿ ---Percentages---
Very Short 32 22 10
Short 48 38 22
Adequate 19 39 56
Surplus 1 1 12

Source: Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service

ATHENS, Ga. - After a month of little rain and intense heat, severe drought conditions have returned to parts of north and middle Georgia. Lack of topsoil moisture is a major concern across the state.

The Georgia Agricultural Statistical Service reports that moisture is short to very short in 80 percent of the state's soils. Last year at this time, in a dry summer, soil moisture was rated as short to very short in 60 percent of the soils. The average over the past five years is 32 percent.

Soil Moisture Low

Soils are very dry in southwest Georgia, with potential crop yields being severely cut because of dryness, according to the August 7 Crop Moisture Index. Soils in northeast, west central and central Georgia are excessively dry, with yield prospects reduced.

The CMI rates soils in north central, east central, south central and southeast Georgia as abnormally dry, with yield prospects deteriorating. The soil moisture in northeast Georgia is rated as short.

cropmoist810.gif (8641 bytes)

Many places in north and middle Georgia received less than a third of their normal rainfall during the past four weeks (July 14 through Aug. 10). Some had less than a fourth of normal rainfall, including Athens (0.80 inches) and Blairsville (0.98).

Augusta (0.08 inches), Columbus (0.31), Macon (0.58) and Rome (0.41) each had less than a fifth of normal rainfall.

Palmer Drought Severity Index

The Palmer Drought Severity Index is the most commonly used drought index in the United States. The PDSI classifies long-term drought conditions, primarily to assess hydrological conditions. It is not a good index for most agricultural purposes.

As of Aug. 7, the PDSI classifies all of Georgia except the northwest corner in moderate to severe drought. The northwest corner is in mild drought.

Soil moisture loss from evapotranspiration ranged from 1.25 to 1.5 inches across the state last week. With the current evapotranspiration rates, the state will continue to lose soil moisture even with normal rainfall.

pdsi810.gif (8304 bytes)

Above-normal rainfall will be needed to end drought conditions. According to the PDSI calculations, the northeast, west central, central, southwest and south central Georgia need more than six inches of rain to end the drought.

You can get updates on drought conditions at the University of Georgia drought Web site. Or contact your county Extension Service agent.

David Emory Stooksbury is associate professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
David E. Stooksbury, Ph.D.
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