Crop rotation and tillage effects on selected soil physical properties of a Typic Haploxerert in an irrigated semi-arid Mediterranean region

conventional tillage with burned residue (CT 2), reduced tillage with heavy tandem disc-harrow (RT1 ), reduced tillage with rotary tiller (RT 2 ), reduced tillage with heavy tandem disc harrow fallowed by no-tillage (RNT) and no tillage (NT). Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (HC), bulk density (BD), mean weight diameter (MWD), available water content (AWC) and total porosity at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths. The highest HC values of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths were obtained with CT 1 (9.70×10-6 m s-1, 8.74×10-6 m s-1) and CT2 (9.39×10-6 m s-1 , 8.58×10 -6 m s-1) applications. CT2 treatment destructed the soil aggregates and resulted in greater bulk density and low total porosity at 0-10 cm depth. The available water content at 0-10 cm depth was significantly reduced with the CT 1 (P 2 applications (Pcaused higher bulk density and low porosity, increase in MWD is an indication of soil and water conservation. Therefore, no till and reduced till applications should be adapted to the farmers’ conditions for sustainability in agriculture.