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Exploring Soil Hydro-Physical Improvements Under No-Tillage: A Sustainable Approach for Soil Health

Author

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  • Gabriel-Dumitru Mihu

    (Department of Pedotechnics, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania)

  • Tudor George Aostăcioaei

    (Department of Pedotechnics, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania)

  • Cosmin Ghelbere

    (Research Institute for Agriculture and Environment, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 9, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania)

  • Anca-Elena Calistru

    (Department of Pedotechnics, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania)

  • Denis Constantin Țopa

    (Department of Pedotechnics, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania)

  • Gerard Jităreanu

    (Department of Pedotechnics, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania)

Abstract

No-tillage (NT) is a key practice in conservation agriculture that minimizes soil disturbance, thereby enhancing soil structure, porosity, and overall quality. However, its long-term effects on soil pore networks and hydro-physical functions remain underexplored. This study evaluated the impacts of NT and conventional tillage (CT) on soil hydro-physical properties using undisturbed soil columns, X-ray computed tomography, and standard physical measurements. A field experiment was conducted under an eight-year continuous cropping system, with a four-year rotation [winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)—maize ( Zea mays L.)—sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.)—peas ( Pisum sativum L.)], comparing NT and CT treatments with three replications. Soil parameters including bulk density (BD), moisture content, total porosity (SP), water-stable aggregates (WSA), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) were measured. Results showed that NT increased BD (1.45 g/cm 3 ) compared to CT (1.19 g/cm 3 ), likely due to reduced soil disturbance. Moisture content under NT was up to 78% higher than CT. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was also higher in NT, with 17% and 43% increases observed at harvest in 2022 and 2023, respectively, except in the 0–30 cm layer immediately after sowing. Micro-CT analysis revealed a 34–115% increase in macropores (>1025 μm) under NT at 10–40 cm depth. These findings demonstrate that long-term NT improves key soil hydro-physical properties, supporting its integration into sustainable farming systems to balance productivity and environmental stewardship.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel-Dumitru Mihu & Tudor George Aostăcioaei & Cosmin Ghelbere & Anca-Elena Calistru & Denis Constantin Țopa & Gerard Jităreanu, 2025. "Exploring Soil Hydro-Physical Improvements Under No-Tillage: A Sustainable Approach for Soil Health," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:9:p:981-:d:1647163
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