Cropping Patterns and Monsoon Dynamics Impacts on Soil Hydraulic Function in West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT Monsoon fluctuation and agricultural land use systems were revealed to have a critical impact on soil hydrological characteristics in a comprehensive 2‐year study (2020–2021) across microwatersheds in West Bengal, India. Twenty different cropping systems were evaluated, with the groundnut‐rice‐potato rotation (C10) proving to have better performance, showing high infiltration (2.03–2.06 cm h −1 ) and permeability (0.22 cm s −1 ) through varying monsoon years. The 2021 monsoon (1674 mm rainfall) revealed the resilience of biologically‐managed systems, with C10 retaining 95% permeability post‐monsoon, while conventional systems (e.g., C5, C7) showed 15%–20% declines. Principal component analysis identified soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability, and porosity as key drivers of hydraulic function, with C10's success attributed to groundnut‐derived biopores (1.5–2.0 m depth) and SOC‐mediated aggregate stability (0.36%–0.84%). Systems with shallow‐rooted crops (C7, C8) performed poorest (0.01–0.33 cm h −1 infiltration), particularly in clay‐rich soils. The study demonstrates that strategic crop diversification—particularly pre‐monsoon legumes with deep root systems—can overcome textural limitations, enhancing monsoon resilience. The results offer practical recommendations for climate‐adaptive agriculture in rainfed regions, highlighting groundnut‐based rotations as nature‐based solutions for sustainable soil health and water management.