Soil gas diffusivity and pore continuity dynamics under different tillage and crop sequences in an irrigated Mediterranean area

Gas diffusion can be used to quantify soil quality and structural development that is strongly affected by use management practices. There a lack of information about the quantitative effect tillage combined with crop sequences on structure. This study aimed effects bulk density, gas diffusivity, air-filled porosity, resulting pore continuity their dynamic during cropping cycle. A total 288 undisturbed samples were collected over two growing periods (2018–19 2019–20) long-term field experiment (~25 years old) in Agramunt, NE Spain. Three factors investigated observe influence above-mentioned soil’s physical characteristics: systems (intensive tillage, IT no-tillage, NT), (short fallow-maize, FM; legume-maize, LM) positions (within row crops, W-row; between rows B-row). Soil diffusivity was measured at five different water matric potentials (SWMP) (?10, ?50, ?100, ?333 ?1000 cm H2O). LM sequence showed greater macroporosity as well enhanced continuity, than FM, especially W-row. No significant differences observed for NT though had lower porosity (> 30 µm) compared IT. under particularly among macropores less blocked pores higher SWMP (?10 H2O) but no difference (?1000 regardless position. Air-filled changes maize planting harvesting NT. During legume seasons, comparable values In transport favorably alleviating negative intensive degradation. Long-term also improved structure indicated macropores, despite decrease macroporosity, did not significantly diffusivity.