Following the adoption of zero-tillage (ZT) from conventional tillage (CT), the soil pore network undergoes immediate and significant changes. As soil remains undisturbed for an extended period, a soil structure emerges that is primarily generated and stabilised by both biotic and abiotic processes. There is limited understanding concerning how the adoption of ZT influences the soil porous architecture and associated soil hydraulic properties, and specifically over what timeframe these changes occur. Since a previous synthesis of such information over 20-years ago, there has been a substantial number of new investigations aimed at addressing this knowledge gap. Here we review 34 papers that illustrate ZT can influence porosity depending on soil texture, pore size class, depth and time, and also influence important transport mechanisms likely to impact the fate of agrochemicals in soils. We found decreased macroporosity in surface layers of soil under ZT when compared with CT. In addition, soil pore connectivity tended to increase in soil under ZT though the associated effects on hydraulic transport were less clear. Our investigation reveals the value of a prospective examination of an evolving ZT pore network both visually and functionally across temporal and spatial scales. We also highlight the necessity for standardised methodology to aid in future data compatibility and quantitative analysis.

在采用传统耕作 (CT) 的零耕作 (ZT) 之后，土壤孔隙网络发生了直接而显着的变化。由于土壤在较长时间内保持不受干扰，因此出现了主要由生物和非生物过程产生和稳定的土壤结构。关于 ZT 的采用如何影响土壤多孔结构和相关的土壤水力特性，特别是在什么时间范围内发生这些变化，人们的理解有限。自从 20 多年前对此类信息进行了综合以来，已经有大量旨在解决这一知识差距的新调查。在这里，我们回顾了 34 篇论文，这些论文说明 ZT 可以根据土壤质地、孔径等级、深度和时间影响孔隙度，并且还影响可能影响土壤中农用化学品命运的重要运输机制。我们发现，与 CT 相比，ZT 下土壤表层的大孔隙率降低。此外，ZT 下土壤孔隙连通性趋于增加，尽管对水力输送的相关影响不太清楚。我们的调查揭示了在时间和空间尺度上对不断发展的 ZT 孔隙网络进行视觉和功能上的前瞻性检查的价值。我们还强调了标准化方法的必要性，以帮助未来的数据兼容性和定量分析。ZT 下土壤孔隙连通性趋于增加，尽管对水力输送的相关影响不太清楚。我们的调查揭示了在时间和空间尺度上对不断发展的 ZT 孔隙网络进行视觉和功能上的前瞻性检查的价值。我们还强调了标准化方法的必要性，以帮助未来的数据兼容性和定量分析。ZT 下土壤孔隙连通性趋于增加，尽管对水力输送的相关影响不太清楚。我们的调查揭示了在时间和空间尺度上对不断发展的 ZT 孔隙网络进行视觉和功能上的前瞻性检查的价值。我们还强调了标准化方法的必要性，以帮助未来的数据兼容性和定量分析。