This dataset contains soil volumetric water content data collected starting in 2011 for a long-term precipitation and nutrient manipulation experiment at the Jornada Basin LTER site in southern New Mexico, U.S.A. This experiment uses precipitation shelters and irrigation treatments to manipulate water inputs, and fertilization treatments to alter nitrogen input to 2.5 x 2.5 meter plots in a desert grassland. Soil sensors are installed at surface and deep soil layers in each plot and collect hourly averages of volumetric water content using a time-domain reflectometry method. This dataset contains daily averages. This is an ongoing study and the dataset will be updated yearly.