Mekki I. auteur aut IRD Zitouna Chebbi auteur aut IRD Jacob Frédéric auteur aut IRD Ben Mechlia N. auteur aut IRD Prevot L. auteur aut IRD Albergel Jean auteur aut IRD Voltz M. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Understanding the temporal and spatial variability of soil moisture is fundamental for improving the management of water and soil resources on rainfed agrosystems. The present study focused on the soil moisture (SM) patterns observed in a hilly rainfed agrosystem. We analyzed five datasets from measurement at 15 sites during various crop growth cycles under the common cereals/legumes/pasture cropping systems within the Kamech catchment in Tunisia. Results indicated a strong seasonality in the precipitation and evapotranspiration dynamics that strongly influences soil moisture patterns, with a strong reduction in the water availability during summer (average SM = 0.20 m3/m3) as compared to winter (average SM = 0.40 m3/m3). The data of two consecutive years showed that the spatial variability, expressed through the coefficient of variation of soil moisture, was at its highest point during spring. The averaged soil moisture of the two years yielded a reasonable significant linear relation (R2=0.67**), indicating temporal stability of the spatial pattern. Actual evapotranspiration was found to be the predominant factor influencing the dynamics of soil moisture. specialized EAU DU SOL AGROCLIMATOLOGIE UTILISATION DU SOL HUMIDITE DU SOL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION PARCELLE DE CULTURE BASSIN VERSANT INTENSIFICATION DE L'AGRICULTURE AGROSYSTEME TUNISIE 072AGRMET01 3 1 64-74 2018 2490-3434 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074653 10.7251/AGRENG1801064M 2490-3434 [F B010074653] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074653 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers19-01/010074653.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2019-01-18 2023-07-11 fdi:010074653 fre