Effect of different management systems on soil water content in the black soil of northeast China

Soil water content is considered to be one of the most important factors affecting crop productivity. In this study, the different management practices were investigated in the black soil of Northeast China to evaluate the efficacy of practices on soil water content. The results showed that the application of organic matter, large-scale machine and residues retention have positive effects on soil water content. Saturated water content (SWC), field water-holding capacity (WHC), and available water content (AWC) were strongly correlated with soil bulk density and soil organic matter. Our results suggested that proper management systems could improve soil water use efficiency in black soil region of Northeast China.