- Does Dew Affect turfRad Readings?

No — dew does not affect turfRad readings.

turfRad measures root-zone soil moisture, not surface conditions. This means readings remain accurate even when the turf is wet from dew or light rain.

Why Dew Does Not Affect Measurements

turfRad uses L-band microwave radiometry, which measures moisture several inches below the turf surface.

Surface water from dew forms only a very thin layer and does not significantly affect these signals. The sensor captures moisture in the active root zone (approximately 3–4 in deep), rather than conditions at the surface.

Because of this, the measurements reflect what is happening below the canopy, not what is visible on top. This makes the data stable and reliable, regardless of surface wetness.

What This Means in Practice

You can confidently collect data even when the turf is wet. Morning dew, light rain, or recently irrigated surfaces will not impact the measurement.

There is no need to delay scanning due to surface moisture — the readings will still represent actual soil moisture conditions in the root zone.

Summary

turfRad is designed to measure subsurface moisture directly, which means readings are not influenced by dew or other surface conditions. This allows for consistent, reliable data collection throughout the day, including early morning when dew is present.