Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, M. P.
*Present address: Dryland Research Project, College of Agriculture, Indore, M.P.
**Present address: Illinois State University, Urbana, Illionois, U.S.A.
The soil moisture content changes under maize and soybean crops were studied at certain intervals from 0 to 90 cm to determine the moisture depletion pattern. The soil from surface to a depth of 90 cm had a significantly higher moisture content under maize than that under soybean because soil moisture depletion in the later part of growing season from different layers upto a depth of 60 cm as recorded by tensiometers took place at a faster rate under soybean as compared to maize. But at 90 cm depth, the soil moisture extraction pattern approached similarity under both the crops. The soil moisture content under both maize and soybean was higher at lower positions on the slope. The subsurface soil always contained a greater amount of moisture than surface soil.
Moisture depletion, moisture tension, moisture profile
