Tillage is one of the most important practices that have a significant influence on the soil hydro-physical properties. In this study, the impact of the type and number of input variables with five different methods of the Retention Curve program (RETC) to predicting the moisture retention curve and soil water content in three tillage surfaces – NT (no-tillage), CP (chisel plough) and MP (moldboard plough) – and the impact of tillage systems on soil hydro-physical properties were evaluated. According to results, when the field capacity and wilting point were added to input data in RETC to predict the moisture curve model parameters, the EF was increased in MP (0.977, 0.95) and CP (0.891, 0.86) treatments when compared to NT (0.665, 0.608). The Mualem–Van Genuchten model can satisfactorily describe the simulation of soil physical properties. The S-index, which was also affected by tillage, was greater than 0.066 in all tillage treatments, indicating good soil physical quality. Results indicated that NT had the highest and lowest values of bulk density (1.55 mg∙m-3) and total available water (TAW) (0.038 m∙m-1), respectively, and the difference between NT and MP in total porosity was significant. Overall, in most soil layers, tillage practices affected the porosity and TAW in the order MP > CP > NT. Water retention curves indicated that the water retention capacity was greater in tilled than in no-tilled surfaces, and saturated hydraulic conductivity values were greater in tilled treatments than in NT one.
