Abstract
The most significant components of soil physics are the soil water relations and hydrostatic properties which determine the entry, flow and storage of water in agricultural soils. These processes directly impact the irrigation efficiency, plant-available water, root development and crop productivity. This was a review to provide a scientific review of the soil water relations and hydraulic properties in agricultural systems with particular focus on soil moisture, water retention, infiltration, permeability and hydraulic conductivity. The review also looked at the key considerations on soil water movement such as soil texture, soil structure and organic matters and the implication of these on irrigation efficiency and crop productivity. The results show that the hydraulic behavior of the soil is greatly affected by the nature of the soil and the management of soil. The positive hydraulic characteristics of soils increase water retention, water movement and crop growth whereas, negative hydraulic characteristics reduce the efficiency of irrigation systems and increase chances of water stress and loss of crops. Overall, water-use efficiency should be enhanced, by enhancing understanding of hydraulic properties and sustainable agricultural practice, to enhance the health of the soil, and to maintain the crop productivity in the long-term.