Impact of Agricultural Practices on Soil Pore System Parameters and Physical Soil Quality in New Reclaimed Land

Soil physical quality estimation is vital for enhancing crop yield, water productivity, and sustainable land management. The objective of the work is to compare soil physical quality estimated by the indirect approach using S-index value with the direct approach using soil physical quality index (SQIp) under various agricultural management practices .Soil physical quality was assessed using both S-index value and soil physical quality index (SQIp). The results demonstrate that crop type, tillage practices, and long-term management significantly influence soil hydraulic properties, including porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and water retention. Sugar beet cultivation under conventional tillage (CT) improved pore size distribution, reduced bulk density, and enhanced organic matter content, leading to optimal water infiltration and retention. In contrast, no-tillage (NT) practices in crops like faba bean resulted in lower macroporosity and reduced Ks, potentially limiting soil water retention and crop productivity. This was supported by higher S-index and Soil Physical Quality Index (SQIp) values, along with improved pore structure and increased Ks. Strong correlations between the S-index and pore properties (microporosity: r=0.85, macroporosity: r=0.759, mesoporosity: r=0.677) indicate that pore size distribution can predict S-index through multiple regression analysis. The study concludes that the S-index, together with SQIp, is a reliable indicator of soil physical quality, emphasizing the importance of sustainable agricultural practices for soil quality.