The aim of the study was to determine the main factors influencing the variability of soil moisture under canopy of maize growing in monoculture and in crop rotation subjected to conventional and reduced tillage treatments. The experimental sites belong to warm and moderate arid climatic region with long term average precipitation 580 mm and 9.6 ˚C temperature and 173 m altitude. The maize was growing in following crop rotation:  winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – maize (Zea mays L.) – spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) – common pea (Pisum sativum L.). The mouldboard ploughing (conventional tillage) to the depth0.3 m and shallow loosening to the depth 0.1 m and its influence on soil moisture in six layer has been evaluated. Samples were taken five times per year with tree replication in six layers (each 0.1m thick). Seasonal dynamics with influence of weather and growing crops have been ascertained. According three year field trials we confirm no significant differences of soil moisture between primary conventional tillage and reduced tillage treatments under canopy of maize growing in crop rotation and growing as single cropping. Total average of moisture content under reduced tillage revealed the less infiltration rate with comparison to conventional mouldboard ploughing. The highest variability of soil moisture was induced by date of sampling and crop rotation which is important tool for better management of soil moisture balance under canopy of maize.

tillage systems; soil moisture; crop rotation; monoculture; maize

Presentation: oral