Water is the primary limiting factor in dryland crop production, therefore emerging approaches for preserving rainwater to be more accessible to plants, for extended periods of time, can significantly improve agricultural system efficiency. Furrow diking, a method involving compartmentalizing micro-basins to increase infiltration and soil water storage is one of the most promising water conservation solutions, particularly for sloping terrain. Moreover, furrow diking is associated with water conservation practices and regenerative agriculture as adaptive to dryland crop production. The present research study aims at improving the process of building soil compartmentalized segments using furrow diking technology, by designing and testing optimal geometries for the active soil modeling component. Three new constructive designs of a furrow diking active subassembly were built and tested in comparison with the standard version. In accordance with the considered quality indicators, the most efficient constructive shape was the curved rotor blade due to the higher volume of managed soil and fewer soil losses. Furthermore, the technology applied on three non-irrigated sunflower experimental crops grown on sloping land showed very good effectiveness with respect to the studied climatic and pedological conditions in southern Romania. When compared with non-compartmentalized crops, the most efficient rotor geometry design increased seed production by 11–13%. Water storage efficiency contributed the most to the yield increase, with moisture retention from the root zone improving by an average of 20%.

Poultry-processing industries generate substantial quantities of waste, posing significant environmental challenges due to the complexity of handling and disposal. This study explores an innovative solution that combines thermochemical treatment of poultry waste with furrow-diking technology to transform non-recyclable feathers and bones into biochar—a nutrient-rich soil amendment. The research identifies optimal pyrolysis conditions for biochar production and evaluates its effects on soil moisture retention, compaction reduction, and erosion control. Experimental trials on sloped terrains reveal that incorporating biochar into compartmentalized furrows enhances water-holding capacity and soil structure, providing a sustainable approach to addressing agricultural challenges. Pyrolyzing poultry waste at 500 °C produced biochar with high nitrogen content and stability, capable of retaining up to 90% of its mass in water and significantly reducing soil compaction. Furthermore, applying 10 metric tons of biochar per hectare can sequester 5–8 metric tons of carbon annually, contributing to long-term carbon mitigation and regenerative agriculture. This integrated methodology combines waste valorization with ecological restoration, unlocking new opportunities for scalable and sustainable soil-management solutions.