Influence of Crop Phenology and Seasonality on Soil Conditions Across Depth Profiles

The regulation of nutrient availability and microbial processes in agroecosystems are strongly mediated by soil physico-chemical factors. Yet, their seasonal dynamics in different crops are not fully understood. This study monitored pH, redox potential (Eh), electrical conductivity (EC), and nitrite (NO2−) in soils grown with clover, maize, and triticale from November to May. Monthly samples were collected in four depth layers (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80 cm) and analyzed to reveal patterns over time and space. Soil pH remained near neutral, with slight decreases in spring, and it appeared that maize maintained more stable values than clover or triticale. Eh was highest in winter, indicating oxidizing conditions, but decreased in spring, especially at depth under triticale. EC showed moderate variation, with higher surface values under maize. NO2− was uniformly low in winter but increased in spring, especially in deeper soils with triticale, while clover had lower accumulation. Overall, clover supported greater soil stability, maize increased surface EC, and triticale enhanced nitrite accumulation at depth. These results highlight the need for crop-specific, depth-aware management to maintain soil quality and optimize nitrogen cycling in agricultural systems.