Soil Resistance Research Articles

Impact of biochar on the antibiotic resistome and associated microbial functions in rhizosphere and bulk soil in water-saving and flooding irrigated paddy fields

The addition of biochar in paddies under the condition of water-saving irrigation can simultaneously achieve soil improvement and water conservation, but little is known about the role of these two regulations in mediating the fate of antibiotic resistome in paddy soils. Here, metagenomic analysis was conducted to investigate the effects and intrinsic mechanisms of biochar application and irrigation patterns on propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in paddy soils. The addition of biochar in paddy soil resulted in a reduction of approximately 1.32%–8.01% in the total absolute abundance of ARGs and 0.60%–22.09% in the numbers of ARG subtype. Compared with flooding irrigation, the numbers of detected ARG subtype were reduced by 1.60%–22.90%, but the total absolute abundance of ARGs increased by 0.06%–5.79% in water-saving irrigation paddy soils. Moreover, the combined treatments of flooding irrigation and biochar could significantly reduce the abundance of ARGs in paddy soils. The incremental antibiotic resistance in soil induced by water-saving irrigation was likewise mitigated by the addition of biochar. Correlation analyses indicated that, the differences in soil physicochemical properties under biochar addition or irrigation treatments contributed to the corresponding changes in the abundance of ARGs. Moreover, the variations of microbial community diversity, multidrug efflux abundance and transport system-related genes in paddy soil were also important for mediating the corresponding differences in the abundance of ARGs under the conditions of biochar addition or irrigation treatments. The findings of this study demonstrated the effectiveness of biochar application in mitigating antibiotic resistance in paddy soils. However, it also highlighted a potential concern relating to the elevated antibiotic resistance associated with water-saving irrigation in paddy fields. Consequently, these results contribute to a deeper comprehension of the environmental risks posed by ARGs in paddy soils.

Insight on characterization through porosity-to-lime index of a stabilized soil for the long-term

The strength of lime-cemented soils has received significant attention in previous studies. However, limited research has focused on studying soil mixtures for extended durations beyond 365 days, which is essential for understanding shear strength, microstructure, unconfined compressive, and matric suction. Consequently, there is a need to explore the long-term behavior and unsaturated properties of soil specimens cured for up to 500 days using appropriately hydrated lime, considering the semi-empirical porosity/lime index. By investigating various curing times ranging from 15 to 500 days, as well as employing different compaction energies (standard, intermediate, and modified) and lime content ranging from 3% to 9% by weight, this study aims to characterize the evolution of resistance and unsaturated properties of lime-cemented soils. The semi-empirical porosity/lime index is employed to guide the characterization and analysis of the mixtures' resistance properties. By developing equations to estimate the resistance of these mixtures, the study contributes to reducing lime consumption (and reducing CO2 emissions during its production) and optimizing curing time, leading to environmentally friendly geotechnical projects. Due to the utilization of the porosity/lime ratio, lime consumption can be minimized, and curing time can be fixed, resulting in a significant reduction in energy requirements, which is beneficial for the environment. The outcomes of this research have profound implications for the design and construction of sustainable structures such as dams, pavements, and slope protection systems, ensuring their long-term stability, resilience, and ecological balance.

Using copper-coated round rod electrodes at various depths in freshwater marshes

Purpose: High-voltage electrical equipment requires a grounding installation in order to protect lives in freshwater swamps with a hydrogen potential of 6.75. To build a grounding structure, it is required to know the resistance value and grounding materials, namely copper-coated rod electrodes at different depths.
 Research methodology: The research was conducted in a freshwater swamp close to the shampooing substation using field observations and direct measurement of soil resistance values, followed by a literature review and comparisons using COMSOL simulation and FEM Analysis.
 Results: The results of direct research and simulations indicate that in order to accomplish a grounding resistance value < 5 ohms according to the PUIL 2011 standard for a single rod system made of copper, it is necessary to optimize the depth of the grounding electrode within a range of 10 meters, which differs from the simulation results of ground resistance measurement and the Comsol application. The percentage error is 1.05%.
 Limitations: This research analyzes the results of measurements and grounding analysis using Comsol Multiphysics at a depth of 1 meter for a particular type of copper-coated round rod electrode at depths of 1, 1.5, and 2 meters.
 Contributions: The results of the study offer information on the usefulness of grounding resistance in freshwater wetlands with a pH greater than 6, where several rod electrode types are utilized to compare future research.

Study on the dynamic embedment variation of shallow embedded submarine pipelines in sand

The clarification of the pipe–soil interaction mechanism is a critical link in the design of the in-situ stability of shallow embedded pipes in subsea areas, and the in-situ embedment of pipelines is an important parameter in the pipe-soil interaction mechanism. A large-scale plane strain model test was performed for a shallow embedded pipeline with horizontal cyclic motion in sand. Additionally, a numerical analysis model that is applicable to multicycle submarine pipe–soil interactions in sand was constructed, which can consider the dynamic change in the pore ratio of sand during the motion of a shallow buried pipeline. The development law of dynamic embedment and factors influencing the pipeline after multiple horizontal cycles were studied. A method for calculating the dynamic embedment of pipelines in sandy soil was proposed. The results reveal that horizontal cyclic movement of the pipe in sandy soil increases the embedment depth, and dynamic embedment rises by 1.09–11.78 times depending on the initial state of the pipeline. Furthermore, a soil berm rises on both sides of the pipe following cycling, and the sand around the pipe is sheared and shrunken, causing a large increase in soil resistance during the horizontal movement of the shallow embedded pipe.

Influence of the Antibiotic Oxytetracycline on the Morphometric Characteristics and Endophytic Bacterial Community of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

Antibiotics enter the soil with compost prepared from livestock manures and other sources. There is concern that they may influence plant growth and cause antibiotic resistance in soil and plant endospheric microbiomes. In the present work, lettuce plants were cultivated in soil and hydroponics spiked with oxytetracycline (0, 15, and 300 mg × kg-1 and 0, 15, and 50 mg × L-1, respectively) during a 28-day greenhouse experiment. It was revealed that the antibiotic reduced the chlorophyll content, the biomass, and the length of the roots and stems by 1.4-4.7, 1.8-39, 2.5-3.2, and 1.8-6.3 times in soil and in hydroponics. The copy numbers of the tet(A) and tet(X) genes were revealed to be 4.51 × 103-1.58 × 105 and 8.36 × 106-1.07 × 108 copies × g-1, respectively, suggesting the potential migration of these genes from soil/hydroponics to plant roots and leaves. According to a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis of the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data, endospheric bacterial communities were similar in leaves and roots independent of the growing substrate and antibiotic concentration. While soil bacterial communities were unaffected by the presence of antibiotics, hydroponic communities exhibited dependency, likely attributable to the absence of the mitigating effect of soil particle absorption.

Microbial organic fertilizer prepared by co-composting of Trichoderma dregs mitigates dissemination of resistance, virulence genes, and bacterial pathogens in soil and rhizosphere

The use of manure, mycelium dregs and other waste as organic fertilizer is the main source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens in farmland. Composting of waste may effectively remove ARGs and pathogens. However, the profiles and drivers of changes in metal resistance genes (MRGs), biocide resistance genes (BRGs), and virulence genes (VGs) in soil-crop rhizosphere systems after compost application remain largely unknown. Here, we prepared two kinds of microbial organic fertilizers (MOF) by using Trichoderma dregs (TDs) and organic fertilizer mixing method (MOF1) and TDs co-composting method (MOF2). The effects of different types and doses of MOF on resistance genes, VGs and pathogens in soil-rhizosphere system and their potential mechanisms were studied. The results showed that co-composting of TDs promoted the decomposition of organic carbon and decreased the absolute abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) by 53.4–65.0%. MOF1 application significantly increased the abundance and diversity of soil ARGs, BRGs, and VGs, while low and medium doses of MOF2 significantly decreased their abundance and diversity in soil and rhizosphere. Patterns of positive co-occurrence between MGEs and VGs/MRGs/BRGs/ARGs were observed through statistical analysis and gene arrangements. ARGs/MRGs reductions in MOF2 soil were directly driven by weakened horizontal gene transfer triggered by MGEs. Furthermore, MOF2 reduced soil BRGs/VGs levels by shifting bacterial communities (e.g., reduced bacterial host) or improving soil property. Our study provided new insights into the rational use of waste to minimize the spread of resistomes and VGs in soil.

Horizontal vibration characteristics of offshore twin–pile foundations

Accurately estimating the horizontal dynamic parameters of offshore pile groups plays a critical role in offshore foundation engineering. Most of the current research ignored the hydrodynamic force applied to the piles, making it difficult to accurately simulate the operational conditions of offshore pile groups. This study considered the dynamic soil resistance and hydrodynamic pressure induced by pile horizontal vibration, providing a more accurate and comprehensive dynamic analysis of offshore twin–pile foundations. By incorporating the determined pile–soil and pile–water interaction forces and solving the horizontal vibration equations of piles, the dynamic impedance and displacement amplitude of the offshore twin–pile system were derived. After validating the rationality of the proposed solutions, the effects of hydrodynamic force, pile arrangement, and pile geometrical dimensions were extensively discussed. The main conclusions are as: (1) The influence of hydrodynamic force on the dynamic stiffness of the twin-pile system becomes gradually significant as the load frequency increases; (2) Neglecting the effects of hydrodynamic force leads to an overestimation of the natural frequency of twin–pile foundations; (3) Compared to a single pile, the natural frequency of twin–pile foundations is less sensitive to the changes in geometrical dimensions.

Study on the leakage morphology and temperature variations in the soil zone during large-scale buried CO2 pipeline leakage

In the CCUS technology chain, buried CO2 pipelines are inevitable under special terrain conditions. Due to the concealment and the complexity of the soil, they have a higher possibility of leakage. However, there is limited research on buried CO2 pipeline leakage processes. In this study, authors used existing industrial-scale pipelines as CO2 storage containers and constructed a large-scale buried CO2 pipeline experimental system. The leakage hole size and direction were considered to investigate the leakage morphology and temperature changes in the soil. The results showed that during the small-hole leakage, dry ice spheres were formed, which adhered to the pipeline. According to the change of temperature field, the dry ice spheres expanded towards weak areas in the soil, rather than strictly along the jet direction. The volume of dry ice spheres generated in the upward leakage process was the largest, while the volume was the smallest in the downward leakage process. Due to the soil resistance, the volume of dry ice spheres generated in the 3 mm leakage process was always greater than 9 times that of the 1 mm leakage process. The experimental results provide important references for optimizing leakage detection systems and conducting leakage risk assessments.

Failure Behavior and Surrounding Soil Stress Responses of Suction Anchor in Low-Strength Muddy Clay

Anchorage failure of a suction anchor is more likely to occur in low-strength muddy clay. This paper focuses on the failure behaviors of suction anchors and muddy clay stress responses. The centrifugal model test was used to study the loading processes of suction anchors with various pulling angles. Firstly, the multi-stage developing process of anchoring force was analyzed according to the test results. Numerical modeling was used to validate the test results. The displacement of the suction anchor and muddy clay soil were analyzed using the numerical results. Then, the numerical and testing results were compared to analyze the horizontal soil pressure responses around the suction anchors. It was found that the change in loading direction affected the distribution and development of soil stress. The horizontal soil resistance played a crucial role in improving the bearing capacity. The soil stress variation and anchor displacement revealed that the suction anchors exhibited multi-attitude coupling movement during the inclined pulling. The vertical pulling suction anchor showed shear–slip failure behaviors, while the inclined pulling suction anchors showed compression–shear–slip coupling failure behaviors. The results of this study provide insight into the interaction mechanism between suction anchors and muddy clay, serving as a reference for the design and application of suction anchors.

Effects of freeze-thaw on soil detachment capacity in the black soil region of Northeastern China

Soil detachment capacity (Dc) is an important parameter used to determine erosion intensity in physical-process-based erosion models. Freeze-thaw affects soil detachment processes by altering the mechanical properties of soil; however, due to the compound action of freeze-thaw and runoff on Dc, quantifying the impact of seasonal freeze-thaw on Dc remains challenging. A series of experiments with six freeze-thaw cycles (FTC), six initial soil moisture contents (SMC), three slope gradients, and five flow discharges were conducted to investigate the effect of freeze-thaw and hydrodynamic characteristics on Dc. The results showed that soil shear strength (τm), cohesion (Coh), and internal friction angle (φ) gradually tended to become stable with increasing FTC, indicating that repeated FTC had a cumulative impact on soil mechanical properties, and there was a critical FTC between 5 and 7. When FTC rose from 1 to 15, the reduction in τm, Coh, and φ was 0.03∼23.96%, 2.63∼75.21%, and − 5.70∼19.24%, respectively, which increased with an increasing SMC, suggesting that the deterioration effect of FTC on soil mechanical properties was promoted by increasing SMC. During alternating FTC, the relative range and variation coefficient of Dc were 2.21–2.43 and 67.87–75.72%, respectively, indicating that Dc was highly sensitive to FTC. Furthermore, Dc increased by 2.37–71.22% after 15 FTC. Alternating freeze-thaw weakened the soil resistance to detachment. Moreover, the promoting effect of FTC on Dc intensified with an increasing SMC, indicating that the variation in Dc was strongly affected by SMC during FTC. A prediction model (R2=0.955, RRMSE=14.99%) was established to quantify the influence of freeze-thaw and hydrodynamic characteristics on Dc. The explanation rate of variables in the Dc prediction equation was quantitated: the explanation rate of stream power (64.3%) was higher than that of FTC (10.02%) and SMC (3.92%), suggesting that the impact of freeze-thaw on Dc was covered by hydrodynamic characteristics. Further validation is required for the prediction equations when applied beyond the range of construction conditions.

Linking soil physical quality to shoot and root biomass production in scenarios of sugarcane straw removal

Understanding how sugarcane straw removal affects soil physical attributes and root development over successive cultivation years is critical for sustainable straw-based bioenergy production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of straw removal on soil physical quality and its relationship with sugarcane root development and crop yield in soils with contrasting textures. Three straw removal rates corresponding to total removal (TR), moderate removal (MR), and no removal (NR) were arranged in a randomized block design with four replicates. Soil was sampled at depths of 0–0.10, 0.10–0.20, and 0.20–0.40 m to determine soil bulk density, macro- and microporosity, soil penetration resistance, and carbon stock. Annual assessments of sugarcane root and stalk dry biomass were conducted. Overall, excessive straw removal rates were detrimental to soil porosity, C stock, and increased bulk density in the surface layer over successive years compared to moderate and no removal rates. Higher soil penetration resistance levels were observed under total removal, reaching values of 2.6 MPa in the 0–0.10 m layer in both soils. Average reductions in root biomass of 23–33% were verified at moderate and total removal rates in both soils, which affected sugarcane stalk yield, with maximum losses of 24% over crop cycles in the clayey soil. In the sandy loam soil, increases in soil C were correlated with reduced soil penetration resistance, which positively influenced root biomass production. Soil compaction over the years was particularly detrimental in the clayey soil, where the biomass production performance of sugarcane roots and stalk yield decreased in response to increased soil bulk density. Our results suggest that reductions in root biomass may occur in response to straw removal, as well as the loss of soil physical quality induced by soil compaction, with negative effects on C accumulation and soil resistance to root penetration.

Simulation of ash dump embankment stability

Ash and slag materials are removed from boiler rooms of CHP “Combined Heat and Power Plant” (Teploelektrotsentral’) by hydraulic transport and disposed in ash dumps. These are specially organized areas encircled by protective dams depending on the relief either along the entire perimeter or only in certain low-lying areas. The dams of hydraulic structures must provide stability to the whole structure against the following factors: shear; stability of slopes against sliding; filtration resistance of a dam body soils; reliable slope protection against possible failure due to atmospheric precipitation; as well as against wave action of water (within a settling pond); sufficient excess of dam crest over water level of a pond, etc. The study focuse on the design of ash and slag dump embankment (for storage of the ash and slag removed from the boiler rooms of Karaganda CHP by hydraulic transport). Ash dump design requires a broad range of problems to be solved. These include determination of location, design features and type of embankment, area of the basin and volume of the stored waste, strength of the embankment structures, etc. In order to assess the condition of the ash dump design, the stability of the facility embankment slopes for different combinations of loads, the conditions of possible watering of the dams, the presence of “geomembrane”, and pore pressure need to be analysed. A software program based on the finite element method allows simulation of ground (soil) conditions based on the strength and strain characteristics of the dam body filling soils and the base soils. Safety factors of the outer (downstream) slopes of hydraulic structures is determined taking into account the category and design of a structure, type of base (foundation), criticality of the design process stage, and other factors on the basis of conditions that ensure the prevention of the onset of limit states. The most critical and characteristic cross-sections across the perimeter of the ash dump embankment were selected for the computations, based on the analysis of the designed hydraulic structure base lithological composition. According to the computations performed, the outer slopes of the embankment at the paths of wells No. 373-19, No. 381-19, characteristic of almost the entire length of the embankment, are stable for different combinations of loads.

A theoretical calculation method based on nonlinear analysis of offshore rigid monopile on sandy slopes under combined loading

This study proposes a nonlinear analytical method to predict the response of combined loaded offshore rigid monopiles near sandy slopes. Considering the slope effect, the method discusses the ultimate soil resistance before and behind the pile separately. The method assumes that the subgrade reaction modulus varies nonlinearly with relative density but linearly with depth. The equilibrium equation for the pile-soil system is obtained from the balance of forces and moments. By analyzing four mechanical models of rigid monopiles under combined loading and selecting three of them as the basis, a failure mode determination method is provided. The accuracy of this method is verified by comparing with indoor model test, 3D FEA model test and centrifugal test.

Study on calculation method of lateral characteristics of offshore pile near layered soil slope

In actual pile engineering, the laterally loaded offshore pile built near slope is not embedded in uniform clay or sand seabed, but layered soil seabed of different types and properties. For this purpose, a method is proposed to solve the lateral characteristics of offshore pile installed near layered slope in this paper. Based on the interaction force between layered interfaces and the concept of equivalent depth, an equivalent failure wedge model is constructed to evaluate the ultimate soil resistance of each layer of soil. It is assumed that the horizontal subgrade reaction modulus of sand in each layer changes nonlinearly with depth, while the horizontal subgrade reaction modulus of clay in each layer remains unchanged. And the influence of pile diameter and slope effect on the horizontal subgrade reaction modulus is considered. The results obtained in this paper are compared with the field test results and FE results, and the accuracy of the proposed method is verified. The analysis shows that the smaller diameter has the greater impact on the lateral deflection of pile head under the same growth range of diameter. When the pile diameter changes from 1 D to 1.5 D, the lateral deflection of pile head decreases by 42%.

Numerical study on vibratory extraction of offshore wind turbine monopile foundations under sandy seabed condition

The wind industry has experienced a rapid growth in Europe over the last decades. The early generation turbines were designed for a life of 20–25 years. Decommissioning of offshore wind turbines is becoming more important since many of these installed assets are approaching their end of lifetime. In this study, using vibratory extraction of monopile foundations instead of current practice of cutting them is investigated numerically. Correct estimation of extraction force helps operators to choose suitable vibro-hammer and vessel (or crane-barge), which leads to reduction of decommissioning costs. A Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach of ABAQUS/Explicit combined with a modified Mohr-Coulomb (MMC) model are used to find the pile shaft resistance during total removal operation under saturated dense sand condition. The MMC model captures the nonlinear pre-peak hardening and post-peak softening of the dense sand which is not modelled by conventional Mohr-Coulomb model. The VUSDFLD subroutine, which is a user-defined framework, has been used to implement the MMC model into CEL analysis. A parametric study is conducted to analyze how the characteristics of the vibro-hammer, such as its frequency, eccentric moment, and the extraction rate influence the results. The present numerical results show that using proper frequency results in reduction of soil resistance to less than 25% of the initial resistance. However, appropriate hammer with enough eccentric moment and suitable extraction rate, are vital to ensure soil degradation. The results show that the proposed methodology is both robust and straightforward and it has the potential to reduce computational time which is efficient for engineering applications.

Theoretical analysis of dynamic performance of concrete-filled steel tube pile under vertical load

The concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) pile is a type of composite pile that offers a preferable alternative to the traditional pile owing to its exceptional advantages. In this study, a new theoretical model is established to investigate the dynamic performance of the CFST pile under vertical load. The inner concrete column, outer steel tube and surrounding soil are modelled as axisymmetric elastic continua taking account of both the vertical and radial motions. The interface conditions between different materials and specific mathematical tools are then introduced to obtain the theoretical solution for the dynamic impedance of CFST piles. Existing solutions are involved in the verification of the obtained solution. Furthermore, combined with the defined soil resistance factor of the CFST pile, extensive parametric analysis is conducted to explore the impact of geometric and mechanical parameters of the CFST pile-soil system on its dynamic behavior under various working conditions. It is found that two cut-off frequencies exist during the axial vibration of the CFST pile within the low-frequency range and their characteristics are thoroughly investigated. The observations provide valuable guidance and enhanced interpretation for the dynamic analysis and design of CFST piles.

Analysis on the synergistic variation law of pile refreezing process and bearing capacity based on high-strain dynamic test method

The high-strain dynamic test method possesses the attributes of speed, efficiency, and environmentally-friendly, low-carbon characteristics. To study the reliability of the high-strain dynamic test method in detecting the bearing capacity of pile foundation in permafrost regions, 4 test piles, each with a length of 15 m and a diameter of 1.0 m, were poured based on the actual bridge construction project in the permafrost region of Daxing'an Mountains in China. Based on the temperature data between the piles and soil, the refreezing state of the pile foundation was comprehensively judged. Subsequently, the static method was employed to assess the friction resistance values and single pile bearing capacity of each soil layer on the pile side under different freezing states before and after the pile foundation refreezing. Building upon these findings, the restrictive parameters for soil elastic limit q_{(i)}, soil resistance R_{U} (i) and other parameters in the pile-soil model of high-strain dynamic test method are clarified. The test and analysis results indicate that under the condition that the ground temperature of frozen soil is about − 1.9 °C, the pile-soil refreezing takes about 120 days, and the pile-soil refreezing is a slow process; In CAPWAPC calculation program, after the values of soil parameters were constrained by the results of static-load test, the calculated curve is in satisfactory agreement with the measured curve, and the parameters of the pile-soil model are reliable, which can be used for the rapid detection of the ultimate bearing capacity of piles in permafrost regions; In the process of pile-soil refreezing, the change of temperature field affects the freezing strength between pile and soil, the process of pile-soil refreezing is positively correlated with the increase of pile foundation bearing capacity.

Laterally loaded pile response in spatially variable soil

The spatial variability of soil has long been recognised, yet there is a dearth of research on the response of piles under lateral loading that considers this variability, especially for the lateral load transfer (P-y) curve in spatially variable clay. To address this gap, the study presents a three-dimensional random finite element analysis utilising a non-stationary random field to model soil variability with a linearly increasing trend. The results reveal that the spatial variability significantly affects the lateral capacity of the pile, emphasising the importance of accounting for this variability in pile design. Additionally, the study finds that while the spatial variability affects the failure mechanism, the mechanism remains comparable to that observed in deterministic analyses. The spatial variability has a substantial effect on ultimate soil resistance pressure, which can be fitted using a normal probability distribution function. An adjust factor is suggested to calculate the characteristic value, and from this characteristic value, the fractiles of ultimate soil resistance pressure can be calculated. This study provides an evaluation method for the spatial variability effect of soil, facilitating a cost-effective design of pile foundation.

Cyclic p-y curve model of piles subjected to two-way load considering the collapse and densification of sand

A cyclic p−y curve model is proposed to study the lateral response of piles in sand under two-way cyclic loads such as wind and wave. The collapse and densification of the soil around the pile caused by the repeated formation of the gap between the pile and soil during the cyclic loading are considered in the proposed model. Based on the nonlinear strain wedge model, the cyclic p−y curve is preliminarily constructed considering the friction characteristics. A collapse and recompression model of sand is established to account for the variation of the relative density of the caved soil and the characteristics of the pile-soil gap. The densification of sand caused by recompression is evaluated using the stiffness hardening index model. The cyclic p−y curve is modified by considering the collapse and densification of sand and its rationality is verified by comparing the results of calculation and centrifugal model test. Furthermore, the strengthening by the caved soil, the characteristics of the cyclic p−y curve, and the soil resistance are analyzed.

No-Tillage System Can Improve Soybean Grain Production More Than Conventional Tillage System.

Soil management systems can directly interfere with crop yield via changes in the soil's physical and hydraulic properties. However, short- to medium-term experiments of conduction do not always demonstrate the modifications of the management systems in these properties. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physical properties of the soil in a long-term management system and to relate it to the storage and availability of water to plants, verifying its effect on soybean yield. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme with four replications. Plots were composed by soil management (conventional tillage and no-tillage), and subplots represented three soil depths (0.0-0.1, 0.1-0.2, and 0.2-0.4 m). The soil's physical and hydraulic properties, root development, and soybean yield were evaluated. The no-tillage system not only presented higher bulk density and soil resistance to compaction up to a depth of 0.2 m but also greater root development. This management also did not affect the process of water infiltration in the soil and presented an increase in soybean grain yield by 6.5%. The long-term no-tillage system (33 years) offers less risk of water stress to soybean plants; it contributes to greater grain yield of this crop when compared to the conventional tillage system.