Increasing Soil Moisture Content Research Articles

How A Study of Soil Dynamic Properties on the Stability of Building Structures in Foundation and Foundation Engineering

In the context of the increasingly widespread application of high-rise buildings, the selection of foundation base forms with appropriate materials is of great practical significance. The article takes the student teaching building of a college in city A as an example, with the help of the eigenvalue buckling analysis method provided by ANSYS, the three-dimensional finite element model is used to analyze the foundation pit building support structure from the soil moisture content, seismic action and the influence of different clay soil quality. Meanwhile, the feasibility of adopting foundation for buildings with clay1 as the main holding layer is verified from both energetic and dynamic aspects. After the foundation pit building construction, the lateral displacement is overall small, and the maximum lateral displacement is controlled within 4mm. With the increase of soil moisture content, the lateral displacement of the supporting structure gradually increased, and when the moisture content increased to 7 ml and 8 ml, the cumulative values of lateral displacement were 4.4 mm and 5.5 mm, which increased by 1.2 mm and 2.3 mm, respectively, with an increase of 37.50% and 71.88%, which indicated that the building construction should avoid the effect of the rainy season on the soil moisture content. With the analysis under the coaction model, the results show that the rate of foundation soil subsidence is increasing with the increase of floor loading. Under the analysis of the effects of different earthquake levels on different soil qualities, the interlayer displacement of clay 1 under 8 ∘ multiple and 8 ∘ rare earthquakes meets the requirements, so clay 1 meets the feasibility of building foundation engineering.

Long-term effects of adding biochar to soils on organic matter content, persistent carbon storage, and moisture content in Karagwe, Tanzania

Soils require the application of biochar to improve degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a field experiment on soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil moisture content in Karagwe, Tanzania. Seven years ago, a field experiment was conducted using a Latin rectangle design with four replications. The treatments included carbonization and sanitation (CaSa) and carbonization and standard compost (CaSt), which were compared to control Andosols (CoA). A total of 96 soil samples were collected to determine SOM, SOC, and soil moisture content. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that soil samples from the CaSa-treated soil had an increase in SOM content of 17.3%, an increase in stored SOC content of 10.0%, and an increase in soil moisture content of 6.3%. Compared with those in CoA, the CaSt-treated soil showed increases in SOM, SOC, and soil moisture of 14.4%, 8.4%, and 4.0%, respectively. Therefore, all treatments improved soil properties, with CaSa proving more effective in enhancing SOM, SOC, and soil moisture content compared to CaSt and CoA. In conclusion, CaSa is recommended for its sustainable ability to enhance Karagwean soil over time.

Optimizing Irrigation Strategies to Improve Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Drip-Irrigated Maize in Southern Xinjiang

The contradiction between increased irrigation demand and water scarcity in arid regions has become more acute for crops as a result of global climate change. This highlights the urgent need to improve crop water use efficiency. In this study, four irrigation volumes were established for drip-irrigated maize under plastic mulch: 2145 m3 ha−1 (W1), 2685 m3 ha−1 (W2), 3360 m3 ha−1 (W3), and 4200 m3 ha−1 (W4). The effects of these volumes on soil moisture, maize growth, water consumption, crop coefficients, and yield were analyzed. The results showed that increasing the irrigation volume led to a 2.86% to 8.71% increase in soil moisture content, a 24.56% to 47.41% increase in water consumption, and a 3.43% to 35% increase in the crop coefficient. Maize plant height increased by 16.34% to 42.38%, ear height by 16.85% to 51.01%, ear length by 2.43% to 28.13%, and yield by 16.96% to 39.24%. Additionally, soil temperature was reduced by 1.67% to 5.67%, and the maize bald tip length decreased by 6.62% to 48%. The irrigation water use efficiency improved by 6.57% to 28.89%. A comprehensive evaluation using the TOPSIS method demonstrated that 3360 m3 ha−1 of irrigation water was an effective irrigation strategy for increasing maize yield under drip irrigation with plastic mulch in the southern border area. Compared to 4200 m3 ha−1, this strategy saved 840 m3 ha−1 of irrigation water, increased the irrigation water use efficiency by 23.96%, and resulted in only a 0.84% decrease in yield. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing production benefits in the context of limited water resources.

Stability of Loess Slopes Under Different Plant Root Densities and Soil Moisture Contents

This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the landslide problem in the loess hill and gully area in northern Shaanxi Province, selecting the loess landslide site in Quchaigou, Ganquan County, Yan’an City, as the object to assess the stability of loess slopes under the conditions of different plant root densities and soil moisture contents through field investigation, physical mechanics experiments and numerical simulation of the GeoStudio model. Periploca sepium, a dominant species in the plant community, was selected to simulate the stability of loess slope soils under different root densities and soil water contents. The analysis showed that the stability coefficient of Periploca sepium natural soil root density was 1.263, which was a stable condition, but the stability of the stabilized slopes decreased with the increase in soil root density. Under the condition of 10% soil moisture content, the stability coefficient of the slope body is 1.136, which is a basic stable state, but with the increase in soil moisture content, the stability of the stable slope body decreases clearly. The results show that rainfall and human activities are the main triggering factors for loess landslides, and the vegetation root system has a dual role in landslide stability: on the one hand, it increases the soil shear strength, and on the other hand, it may promote water infiltration and reduce the shear strength. In addition, the high water-holding capacity and permeability anisotropy of loess may lead to a rapid increase in soil deadweight under rainfall conditions, increasing the risk of landslides. The results of this study are of great significance for disaster prevention and mitigation and regional planning and construction, and they also provide a reference for landslide studies in similar geological environments.

Evaluation of Land Surface Management on Moisture Conservation, Yield and Yield Components of Maize (<i>Zea Mays </i>L.) in East Shewa Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia

Maize is an important food crop in Ethiopia and it is one of the main smallholder food crops in the rift valley of Oromia, although shortage of rainfall and erratic occurrence was caused soil moisture content stressed yields reduced. Suitable soil and water conservation measures that can be easily integrated into the existing farming operations while enhancing in-situ moisture conservation. The study was conducted on land surface management to increase soil moisture content, amend soil nutrients and enhance yield and yield components of maize. The experiment was conducted during the 2021 and 2022 main cropping seasons at Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center on-station using RCBD that had five tested treatments. Maize variety Melkasa-II was used as a testing crop for its familiar to local communities. The results indicated that soil moisture content was enhanced by 5.8% to 26.4% in maturity and vegetative stages up to 60 cm depths. Soil physico-chemical properties were improved and the highest grain yield was obtained from 5 tha<sup>-1</sup> (SM+FYM) plus NPS fertilizer and 5 tha<sup>-1</sup> of straw mulch plus inorganic fertilizers treatments that increased by three to four fold of the organic fertilizer applied and control treatments orderly. This result implies that retaining crop straw mulch and application of farmyard manure in the field within profitable cost can be used as soil moisture conservation tool for sustainable improvement of maize production in the study area.

Comparison of two gamma-ray datasets measured with different methods and assessment of their performance to predict soil properties

ABSTRACT Terrain mobility is directly dependent on soil properties, i.e. stoniness, soil particle size and peat depth. Gamma-ray spectrometry has been widely used in soil mapping as gamma-rays can penetrate up to 50 cm of soil. The method has proven to be effective in gathering information on various soil properties, such as clay and silt content, organic carbon content, soil pH, and soil stoniness. The intensity of gamma radiation decreases with increasing soil moisture content, which is important when assessing the load-bearing capacity of forest terrain, which affects the quality and planning of mechanized wood harvesting. In this study, we compared two gamma-ray datasets that were acquired from the same plots but measured with different methods: airborne gamma-ray spectrometry and a handheld gamma-ray spectrometer. Regression analyses were used to examine whether the gamma-ray datasets have significant similarities. Linear discriminant analysis was then used to study the performance of the two gamma-ray datasets when predicting different soil properties (stoniness index classes (SIC), soil depth, and peat depth). Our correlation analysis produced R2 values of 0.18–0.29 and root mean square error (RMSE%) values of 0.48–0.55. Prediction of SIC was 67.1% accurate with ground gamma and 45.9% accurate with air gamma. For soil depth predictions, the accuracies were 64.7–70.0% for ground gamma and 61.7–63.5% for air gamma. Our findings showed that ground gamma-ray spectrometry is better at predicting soil properties than air gamma-ray spectrometry.

Differential responses of soil CO2 dynamics along soil depth to rainfall patterns in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Differential responses of soil CO2 dynamics along soil depth to rainfall patterns in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Soil Formation on Loamy Deposits in Technogenic Landscapes of the Taiga Zone in the North-Eastern Part of European Russia

The paper highlights the influence of moisture on the soil formation process on loamy deposits during the primary vegetation succession. The study was carried out in the north-eastern part of European Russia (Komi Republic) in the middle taiga subzone. The authors analyzed young soils on the territory of a quarry for extraction of loamy grounds and background soils in the vicinity of it. Planting the Siberian spruce cultures on the territory of the quarry activated formation of the tree layer and thereby accelerated formation of the zonal type soils. The third succession decade in drained conditions saw formation of organic soil horizons (litters), a decrease in soil density in the upper profile part, a tendency to redistribute and differentiate the silty fraction by one-and-a-half oxides, indicating the beginning of selective podzolization. The rise in soil moisture content increased conservation of organic residues (peat formation) and made gley formation active. The quarry soils, like background soils, increased in acidity, carbon and nitrogen reserves along with the soil moisture content increase. In automorphic soil formation conditions, the rate of organic carbon accumulation in the upper 0–20-cm layer is 0.4 t· ha–1·year1; the excessive soil moisture content further increased it (1.0–1.2 t·ha–1·year1). The reserves of Corg in the upper 20-cm soil layer of young soils are by 2–4 times less than those in background soils.

Study on the Mechanical Properties of Roots and Friction Characteristics of the Root–Soil Interface of Two Tree Species in the Coastal Region of Southeastern China

The tensile strength of roots and the friction characteristics of the root–soil interface of tree species are the indicators that play a crucial role in understanding the mechanism of soil reinforcement by roots. To calculate the effectiveness of the reinforcement of soil by tree roots based on essential influencing parameters, typical trees in the coastal region of southeastern China selected for this study were subjected to tests of the tensile mechanical properties of their roots, as well as studies on the friction characteristics of the root–soil interface and the microscopic interfaces. The results indicated that in the 1–7 diameter classes, the root tensile strength of both Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata was negatively correlated with the root diameter in accordance with the power function. The root tensile strength of these two trees, however, was positively correlated with the lignin content but negatively correlated with cellulose and hemicellulose contents. The shear strength at the root–soil interface and the vertical load exhibited a constitutive relationship, which followed the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. As the root diameter increased, both the cohesion and the friction coefficients at the root–soil interface gradually increased, but the growth rate stood at around 15%. The cohesion value of the root–soil interface of the two trees decreased linearly with the increase in soil moisture content within the range of 25 to 45%. At the microinterface, the root surface of C. lanceolata exhibited concave grooves and convex ridges that extended along the axial direction of roots, with their height differences increasing with the enlargement of the root diameter. The rough surface of P. massoniana roots had areas composed of polygonal meshes, with an increase observed in the mesh density with increasing root diameter.

Effects of vegetation extreme degradation on soil hydrothermal processes in alpine wet meadow on the central Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Effects of vegetation extreme degradation on soil hydrothermal processes in alpine wet meadow on the central Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

EFFECTS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING PRACTICES ON BIOMASS YIELD AND MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) IN SEMI-ARID KITUI COUNTY, KENYA

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Sorghum is an important source of fodder in the semi-arid areas of Kenya. However, its biomass yield has remained low due to the low soil moisture content which is associated with low rainfall. <strong> Objective:</strong> To evaluate the synergistic effects of combining rainwater harvesting practices on biomass yield and the morphometric traits of sorghum in semi-arid Kitui County. <strong>Methodology</strong>: The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design under rainfed conditions between March and August 2021 at the Research Farm of South Eastern Kenya University. It had twelve treatments, including three farming systems (conventional flat planting, ridge and furrow, and zai pits) with three soil mulching types (transparent plastic film mulch, black plastic film mulch, and grass mulch). The farming systems without mulching were used as control treatments. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated using Fisher’s protected Least Significant Difference test at 0.05 %. <strong>Results:</strong> The zai pits with black plastic film mulch and flat planting with grass mulch had the highest and lowest moisture content of 68.65% and 52.5% respectively compared to flat planting. The highest biomass yield was observed in ridge-furrow with black plastic film mulch (3283.33kg ha-<sup>1</sup>) and ridge–furrow with transparent plastic film mulch (3266.03) and was not significantly different. The lowest biomass yield was recorded in conventional flat planting and zai pits and was not significantly different. In all treatments, there was a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in morphometric traits. <strong>Implications: </strong>The farming system and the type of soil mulching determined the increase of soil moisture content, biomass yield, and morphometric traits. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: Combining ridge-furrow and black plastic mulch is recommended to improve the biomass yield of sorghum in semi-arid Kitui County, and other areas with similar agroecological conditions.</p>

Microscopic deformation and fragmentation energy consumption characteristics of soils with various moisture contents using discrete element method

Microscopic deformation and fragmentation energy consumption characteristics of soils with various moisture contents using discrete element method

Intensive ammonium fertilizer addition activates iron and carbon conversion coupled cadmium redistribution in a paddy soil under gradient redox conditions

While over-fertilization and nitrogen deposition can lead to the enrichment of nitrogen in soil, its effects on heavy metal fractions under gradient moisture conditions remains unclear. Here, the effect of intensive ammonium (NH4+) addition on the conversion and interaction of cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe) and carbon (C) was studied. At relatively low (30-80%) water hold capacity (WHC) NH4+ application increased the carbonate bound Cd fraction (F2Cd), while at relatively high (80-100%) WHC NH4+ application increased the organic matter bound Cd fraction (F4Cd). Iron‑manganese oxide bound Cd fractions (F3Cd) and oxalate-Fe decreased, but DCB-Fe increased in NH4+ treatments, indicating that amorphous Fe was the main carrier of F3Cd. The variations in F1Cd and F4Cd observed under the 100-30-100% WHC treatment were similar to those observed under low moisture conditions (30-60% WHC). The C=O/C-H ratio of organic matter in soil decreased under the 30-60% WHC treatment, but increased under the 80-100% WHC treatment, which was the dominant factor influencing F4Cd changes. The conversion of NH4+ declined with increasing soil moisture content, and the impact on oxalate-Fe was greater at 30-60% WHC than at 80-100% WHC. Correspondingly, genetic analysis showed the effect of NH4+ on Fe and C metabolism at 30-60% WHC was greater than at 80-100% WHC. Specifically, NH4+ treatment enhanced the expression of genes encoding extracellular Fe complexation (siderophore) at 30-80% WHC, while inhibiting genes encoding Fe transmembrane transport at 30-60% WHC, indicating that siderophores simultaneously facilitated Cd detoxification and Fe complexation. Furthermore, biosynthesis of sesquiterpenoid, steroid, butirosin and neomycin was significantly correlated with F4Cd, while glycosaminoglycan degradation metabolism and assimilatory nitrate reduction was significantly correlated with F2Cd. Overall, this study gives a more comprehensive insight into the effect of NH4+ on activated Fe and C conversion on soil Cd redistribution under gradient moisture conditions.

Development of an IoT-Based Smart Watering System for Monitoring and Increasing Soil Moisture Content in “Tabtim Siam” Pomelo Garden in Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Southern Thailand

Abstract In Thailand, “Tabtim Siam” pomelo production is essential for domestic consumption and export. Among several environmental factors, soil moisture is the most important factor for citrus plants’ growth and their fruit quality. During the main developmental stages of these plants, the required soil moisture should be above 70% (no water deficit). Therefore, keeping soil moisture at ≥70% in pomelo orchards is crucial. This study developed an IoT-based smart watering system that efficiently monitors soil moisture and assists in maintaining soil moisture at the required level even at a high temperature inside a pomelo orchard in Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Southern Thailand.

Organization of forest geosystems in the Lower Amur region by a case study of the Komsomol’sky Nature Reserve

This article is devoted to the structural-functional organization of the forest geosystems of Komsomol’sky Nature Reserve located in the south of the Lower Amur Region. It considers a landscape organization model built using the information theory methods. The model is represented as a block diagram consisting of digraphs, in whose center there are landscape features. This model is a modified version of the previously published one for the studied territory. It is built on the basis of richer field data and with the addition of previously unused landscape features. Weak links of medium density predominate in the model, which may indicate the stability of the forest geosystems formed there. Our analysis shows that the main factors determining the structure of Komsomol’sky Nature Reserve’s forest geosystems are altitudinal-exposure zonality, altitude, lithology of parent rocks, and soil hydrothermal conditions. It is established that the stand of timber is directly related to the humus soil horizon lithomass: it decreases with an increase in lithomass. Plants biomass is highly dependent on the steepness of slopes: it decreases with its increase. Separate relationships have been revealed for plant layers. The herbaceous layer height decreases with an increase in the altitude and lithom ass in the soil. The herbage floristic diversity differs greatly in land facie groups and has a maximum in the ridge-top areas of the slopes and at the foot hill. The shrub layer height depends on soil moisture content, lithology of parent rocks and lithomass: it de-creases with increasing soil moisture content most of all and increases with increasing lithomass in the soil. A relationship has been found only with the lithomass in the soil for all tree layer features. A lithomass increase has a depressing effect on trees.

Effects of Different Modifiers on Aggregates and Organic Carbon in Acidic Purple Soil

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of different modifiers on the changes in aggregates and organic carbon in acidic purple soil， providing a scientific basis for the remediation of acidic purple soil. Using purple soil as the research object， a total of six treatments were set up， including no fertilization （CK）， single fertilization （F）， fertilization with lime （SF）， fertilization with organic fertilizer （OM）， fertilization with biochar （BF）， and fertilization with distiller's grains ash （JZ）. We compared the composition of aggregates in acidic purple soil under the application of different modifiers， as well as the distribution pattern of organic carbon in aggregates of different particle sizes. Combined with the stability indicators of aggregates， we sought to clarify the impact of different modifiers on the structure of aggregates in acidic purple soil. The results showed that fertilization significantly increased the soil pH， with the JZ treatment being the most effective. Fertilization significantly increased soil organic matter content， with the OM treatment showing the largest increase. The BF and OM treatments significantly reduced soil bulk density， whereas the SF and BF treatments significantly increased soil moisture content （P < 0.05）. All treatments used < 0.25 mm aggregates as the dominant particle size. Fertilization could significantly increase the content of large aggregates （aggregate structure units with diameter > 0.25 mm）. At the same time， fertilization treatments significantly increased the soil geometric mean diameter （GMD）， average weight diameter （MWD）， and R0.25 value （ > 0.25 mm aggregate content） and reduced the fractal cone number （D） and aggregate destruction rate （PAD） values （P < 0.05）. Fertilization also promoted the aggregation and stability of soil aggregates， with the OM treatment having the greatest effect. Compared with that in the CK treatment， fertilization could significantly increase soil organic carbon content by 31.71%-209.67%， with the OM treatment showing the most significant change. Different treatments of soil organic carbon were mainly distributed in large aggregates. Compared with that in the CK treatment， each treatment significantly increased the contribution rate of organic carbon in large aggregates by 19.34%-47.76%， with the OM treatment having the most significant effect （P < 0.05）. In general， chemical fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer could promote the formation of large aggregates in acidic purple soil， improve the stability of soil aggregates， and increase the content of soil organic carbon， which is an effective measure to improve the soil structure and improve the quality of acidic purple soil.

Hedgerow Olive Orchards versus Traditional Olive Orchards: Impact on Selected Soil Chemical Properties

Olive orchards cover over 10 million hectares worldwide, with production techniques undergoing significant changes in the past three decades. The traditional rainfed approach, involving minimal inputs, has given way to irrigated super-intensive systems with higher planting density, increased productivity, a greater use of fertilizers and phytopharmaceuticals, and total mechanization. Its impact on soil chemical properties remains a topic of great debate, and no definitive consensus has been reached. Our main objective was to examine the different effects of traditional olive orchards and super-intensive orchards on soil chemistry over a decade. We collected and analyzed 1500 soil samples from an irrigation perimeter in southern Portugal in 2003 and 2013. Our findings indicate that, compared to traditional olive orchards, super-intensive ones show, in a decade, a significant decrease in soil organic matter (less 22.8%—p < 0.001), namely due to the increase in mineralization caused by an increase in soil moisture content as a result of irrigation practice, and an increase in sodization (more 33.8% of Ext Na—p < 0.001) highlighting the importance of monitoring this factor for soil fertility. In comparison to other irrigated crops in the region, super-intensive olive orchards promote a significant soil acidification (from 7.12 to 6.58), whereas the pH values of the other crops increase significantly (3.3%, 13.5%, and 3.0% more in corn, tomato, and cereals, respectively). Mainly because of the decrease in organic matter levels with soil acidification and soil sodization, we can underline that hedgerow olive orchards can affect soil characteristics negatively when compared with traditional ones, and it is necessary to adopt urgent measures to counter this fact, namely sustainable agriculture practices.

A regime shift between soil moisture and temperature in the 1950s over the permafrost region of Northeast China

AbstractPermafrost is one of the essential carbon pools in the world. Due to limited studies on historical soil moisture changes and the coupling relationship between soil moisture and temperature in permafrost regions, significant uncertainty exists in the carbon loss in permafrost predicted by different models under global warming scenarios. Based on the tree‐ring width chronology of Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica Litv. growing in the southern edge of the Eurasian continuous permafrost zone, we reconstructed the summer (June–September) 0–1 m soil moisture variations from 1705 to 2009, which could explain 45.6% of the variance in the observed soil moisture. Overall, local precipitation and temperature exhibited statistically significant positive feedback (p < 0.001) to soil moisture before the 1950s, indicating that the warm/humid climate pattern was conducive to soil moisture conservation before the Anthropocene Epoch. However, the effect of temperature on soil moisture has shifted suddenly to negative since the 1950s, implying that the positive soil moisture‐temperature relationship during the past three centuries has been disrupted by the unprecedented warming in the Modern Warm Period. Furthermore, we found that the temporal relationship of the soil moisture‐temperature (15‐year sliding correlation) in the study area is negatively regulated by the global mean temperature variations (p < 0.01). The regime shift between soil moisture and temperature might be attributed to the superimposed influence of natural and anthropogenic factors since the 1950s. Although the warming leads to the melting of the permafrost layer, and thus the increase in soil moisture content, the enhanced evapotranspiration caused by warming up results in more water loss and drier soil. This study provides historical evidence of shifted soil moisture‐temperature coupling in the permafrost zone, warning that soil moisture in the permafrost region may further decline under global warming scenarios, thereby affecting vegetation growth and forest carbon sequestration potential.

Relationships between Soil Moisture and Visible–NIR Soil Reflectance: A Review Presenting New Analyses and Data to Fill the Gaps

The ability to precisely monitor soil moisture is highly valuable in industries including agriculture and civil engineering. As soil moisture is a spatially erratic and temporally dynamic variable, rapid, cost-effective, widely applicable, and practical techniques are required for monitoring soil moisture at all scales. If a consistent numerical relationship between soil moisture content and soil reflectance can be identified, then soil spectroscopic models may be used to efficiently predict soil moisture content from proximal soil reflectance and/or remotely sensed data. Previous studies have identified a general decrease in visible–NIR soil reflectance as soil moisture content increases, however, the strength, best wavelengths for modelling, and domain of the relationship remain unclear from the current literature. After reviewing the relevant literature and the molecular interactions between water and light in the visible–NIR (400–2500 nm) range, this review presents new analyses and interprets new 1 nm resolution soil reflectance data, collected at >20 moisture levels for ten soil samples. These data are compared to the results of other published studies, extending these as required for further interpretation. Analyses of this new high-resolution dataset demonstrate that linear models are sufficient to characterise the relationship between soil moisture and reflectance in many cases, but relationships are typically exponential. Equations generalising the relationship between soil MC and reflectance are presented for a number of wavelength ranges and combinations. Guidance for the adjustment of these equations to suit other soil types is also provided, to allow others to apply the solutions presented here and to predict soil moisture content in a much wider range of soils.

Tillage and Crop Residue Effects on Soil Carbon and Moisture for Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Productivity in Semiarid Regions of Tigray, Ethiopia

Soil tillage is one of the basic agriculture operations. However, the appropriate tillage type, tillage time, and tillage frequency for effective moisture harvesting and sustainable soil fertility were not investigated for Tigray. A field experiment was conducted during 2016 to 2018 in Enderta district. It was done with the objective of evaluating the effect of different tillage practices on wheat productivity. The treatments were (I) permanent bed+ crop residue,(II) three times tillage with furrow, (III) two times tillage with furrow, and (IV) farmer’s practice tillage. A randomized complete block design with three replications was set up. Measurement of soil moisture content was conducted using the gravimetric method. Agronomic parameters were collected and analyzed using GenStat. Marginal rate of return was also estimated from the total revenue and total variable cost. Positive effect was found on soil fertility, soil moisture content, and grain yield due to the tillage practice and crop residue. Permanent bed+ crop residues and three tillage furrow increased soil moisture content, organic carbon, and total nitrogen, as well as the yield and yield components at the second and third year of experimentation. The highest grain yield 2952 kg ha-1 and biomass yield 8582 kg ha-1 were recorded at the three tillage furrow in the third year of experimentation. The 59,056 ETB was the highest net revenue recorded at three times tillage with furrows. From this result, it can be concluded that without adding any additional input instead of changing agricultural operation techniques, the economic benefit of farmers’ could be improved by 48%. Therefore, three tillage practices with furrow is the most economically feasible technology for farmers to increase wheat productivity in the semiarid area of Enderta district.