Conservation tillage and biochar improve soil water content and moderate soil temperature in a tropical Acrisol

•Season-long high resolution soil moisture and temperature data was collected from field experiment.•Treatments were conservation tillage with and without biochar, and conventional farming.•Conservation tillage increased soil moisture and reduced soil temperature.•Inclusion of biochar further enhanced effects of conservation tillage on soil moisture and soil temperature.•Biochar reduced soil thermal conductivity despite increase in soil moisture content.