Soil water condition indicators were assessed in a field experiment conducted in Eldorado do Sul, Brazil. The Paleudult soil of the experimental area has been managed during eight years under no-tillage and conventional tillage. Soy bean cultivar Fepagro Rs(-1)0 was sown on November 20, 2003, with 0.40 m of row spacing and 300,000 plants ha-1, with and without irrigation. Variables of soil, plant and atmosphere were monitored with emphasis during drought periods. Variations of the matrix water potential were monitored from 0.075 to 1.20 m of soil depth. A regular delay was observed in the soil drying process in no-tilled plots, in particular during drought periods, indicating higher water storage in no-tillage than in conventional tillage. Higher matrix water potential, lower maximum temperature and smaller thermal amplitude were observed in no-tillage, in comparison to the conventional tillage. Indirect indicators, such as plant height and leaf area index, were in accordance to the higher water storage in no-tilled plots, due to reductions of water deficit in plants. This set of indicators demonstrated the importance of evaluating crop responses in a systemic approach to soil and water management.
soil water; soil tillage; water deficit; matrix water potential; soil temperature
