Agronomic practices are evaluated using yield data so it is essential the yield information is representative and reliable. The purpose of this manual is to explain in practical terms how to obtain such data. The manual ...

Soils are subjected to spatial and temporal alterations of aggregates and pores caused by natural (pedogenesis) and anthropogenic (management) factors (Lal and Shukla, 2004). In fact, soil aggregate distribution is a static ...

Infiltration rate is the velocity or speed at which water enters into the soil. It is usually measured by the depth (in mm) of the water layer that can enter the soil in one hour. An infiltration rate of 15 mm/hour means ...

From a physical perspective, the soil matrix is generally conceptualized as being constituted by soil aggregates (filled spaces) or secondary soil units, and pores (empty spaces) (Soil Science Society of America, 1997; Lal ...

Soil cracking can occur when wet or moist soil dries and is common in soils with a high swell-shrink clay content. Evaporation of soil pore water leads to a build-up of negative pressure which results in a reduction of ...

The water content of a soil is a complementary and necessary indicator in many soil analyses. Soil water content has traditionally been expressed as the ratio of the mass of water present in a sample to the mass of the ...

Mulch cover is formed when crop residues are retained on a field. Mulch cover is considered an important natural resource for conserving and improving the soil, especially in conservation agriculture. In conservation ...

Penetration resistance is an indicator for the level of compaction of the soil. Compaction limits root growth and the availability of air and water to the roots (Herrick and Jones, 2002; Lampurlanés and Cantero-Martínez, ...

The key to conservation tillage is the use of crop residues as mulch. However, there is some confusion over the term conservation tillage, among other things, because too much emphasis has been placed on tillage. Since ...