Monitoring and Evaluation of the Moisture Retention of Leached Chernozem Under Different Types of Tillage

The study discusses the influence of some soil treatments on its moisture storage, soil salinity and nutrient content. The application of remote sensing approach of the soil can provide accurate information for the preparation of maps of moisture storage and of the potential soil fertility in specific agricultural areas. The study is aimed monitoring and evaluation of the moisture retention of leached Chernozem under different types of tillage using device operating on the principle of electromagnetic induction (EMI). The monitoring was conducted on the 12th of October 2023 in agricultural cooperative “Zlatno zarno” near Kalipetrovo village. The geographical location of the village is 44°04′50.96″ N, 27°14′11.89″ E and at an altitudinal range of 82 m. Ploughing was found to increase soil moisture compared to disking, with uniform moisture distribution observed in plowed fields. Soil salinity was higher in areas with pH <6.5, leading to reduced moisture content and increased levels of certain nutrients. Plowing resulted in lower residual nutrient levels and less soil compaction compared to disking. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between soil water content and NH3-N+NO3-N content, with the Kohen’s Kappa coefficient reaching 0.74. These results indicate that the soil water content could be used as a rough indicator for the soil NH3-N+NO3-N content and vice versa. These findings provide insights into optimizing sustainable moisture management in agricultural systems, particularly in Chernozem soils, to enhance water use efficiency and soil health.