Infiltration in three soil management for soybean growing under rainfed agriculture

Abstract

Objective: To study infiltration parameters (infiltration rate, cumulative infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and sorptivity), on the basis of three soil management treatments (subsoiling, ploughing, and harrowing), for soybean (Glycine max) growing, under rainfed agriculture, during three discontinuous years (2020, 2022, and 2023).

Design/Methodology/Approach: The experiment was carried out in the region of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. Each treatment was established in 0.50 ha, with independent plots. Two infiltration tests were made per treatment in 2020 and 2023, using cylindrical infiltrometers for 450 minutes in average. During 2020, 2.0 m × 1.50 m soil profiles were made at a depth of 1.50 m to detect the plough layer. Based on this information, the subsoiling depth (0.70 m) was planned. Additionally, three soil samples were extracted at depths of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm to analyze their physical and chemical properties.

Results: Based on their physical properties, texture, organic matter, and soil conditions, the initial moisture and infiltration parameters (2020) were calculated to compare them with the final results (2023).

Findings/Conclusions The following infiltration parameters had a marked variability in the subsoiling, ploughing, and harrowing soil management systems, for soybean growing under rainfed agriculture: infiltration rate, cumulative infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and sorptivity. Infiltration parameters were higher with subsoiling than with the ploughing and harrowing systems.