A Note on Comparing Rate of Soil Moisture Loss for Conventional and Conservation Tillage Production methods for Peanut (Arachis hypogaea)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Soil moisture retention is important for peanut production as well as water conservation in irrigated and non-irrigated fields. One way to increase soil moisture retention of the soil is by increasing soil organic matter. Research was conducted to determine if there is a difference in the rate of soil moisture loss in a field operated under a conservation production system (CPS) method and a conventionally tilled (CT) method, and if there was a time difference between needed wetting events. Experiments were conducted on two different fields with Tifton sandy loam soil. Soil moisture was monitored with Watermark sensors installed at 10, 20 and 30 cm depths. Data was analyzed to determine the rate of soil moisture loss when the soil was wet (below 50 kPa) and dry (above 80 kPa). The rate of soil moisture loss was not significant between CPS and CT when the soil was wet; however, there was a difference in the soil moisture loss rate when soils were dry. When dry, the CT soils lost moisture at a rate 2.5 times that of the CPS soils. This increased rate of loss indicates that water would need to be supplied to the CT soils every 1.5 d whereas the CPS soils would need water every 3.9 d. These results indicate that use of CPS increased the water holding capacity of soil, increased time required between wetting events, and can aid in the conservation of water resources in peanut production.