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Article

Tillage Effects on Soil Hydraulic Parameters Estimated by Brooks–Corey Function in Clay Loam and Sandy Loam Soils

Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Sidney, MT 59270, USA
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Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2325; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102325
Submission received: 9 September 2025 / Revised: 27 September 2025 / Accepted: 28 September 2025 / Published: 30 September 2025

Abstract

Tillage practices can significantly impact soil structure and pore size distribution and connectivity, consequently affecting the shape of the soil water retention curve (SWRC) and its related estimated hydraulic parameters in the top layer of soil. This study investigated the effect of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) practices on SWRCs and their soil hydraulic parameters, estimated by the Brooks–Corey (BC) function at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths within sugarbeet and corn planting rows in clay loam and sandy loam soils, respectively. Soil water retention curves were measured using the evaporative method (HYPROP). Measured SWRC results were modeled for both untilled and tilled soils using the BC function for each depth in both soils. In clay loam, results indicated that all soil parameters of the BC function, water contents at 330 (θ330) and 15,000 (θ15,000) hPa, and plant available soil water content (AW) were not significantly affected by the type of tillage at either soil depth. The lack of difference in results between NT and CT may be due to considerable soil disturbance, primarily by the harvest process of sugarbeet roots. However, in sandy loam, results indicated that differences occurred in SWRC’s estimated parameters between the NT and CT practices. Averaged across 4 years and two soil depths, the pore size distribution index (λ) and saturated water content (θs) were significantly larger under CT than under NT due to greater soil loosening and disturbance caused by multiple passes of the CT process, thereby developing more soil macroporosity. However, the θ330 and AW were significantly larger in NT than in CT due to reduced soil disturbance and improved soil structure under NT compared to CT practices. Regardless of tillage, measurements of SWRC are important for determining better irrigation management practices, enabling producers to optimize crop productivity, while saving water and sustaining water quality.
Keywords: soil-water retention curve; Brooks-Corey HYPROP; tillage; matric potential; water content soil-water retention curve; Brooks-Corey HYPROP; tillage; matric potential; water content

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MDPI and ACS Style

Jabro, J.D.; Stevens, W.B.; Iversen, W.M.; Sainju, U.M.; Allen, B.L.; Dangi, S.R. Tillage Effects on Soil Hydraulic Parameters Estimated by Brooks–Corey Function in Clay Loam and Sandy Loam Soils. Agronomy 2025, 15, 2325. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102325

AMA Style

Jabro JD, Stevens WB, Iversen WM, Sainju UM, Allen BL, Dangi SR. Tillage Effects on Soil Hydraulic Parameters Estimated by Brooks–Corey Function in Clay Loam and Sandy Loam Soils. Agronomy. 2025; 15(10):2325. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102325

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jabro, Jalal D., William B. Stevens, William M. Iversen, Upendra M. Sainju, Brett L. Allen, and Sadikshya R. Dangi. 2025. "Tillage Effects on Soil Hydraulic Parameters Estimated by Brooks–Corey Function in Clay Loam and Sandy Loam Soils" Agronomy 15, no. 10: 2325. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102325

APA Style

Jabro, J. D., Stevens, W. B., Iversen, W. M., Sainju, U. M., Allen, B. L., & Dangi, S. R. (2025). Tillage Effects on Soil Hydraulic Parameters Estimated by Brooks–Corey Function in Clay Loam and Sandy Loam Soils. Agronomy, 15(10), 2325. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102325

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