The Study of Soil Physical Properties of the Rice-dominated Cropping Area of Tangi Choudwar

Abstract

Wetland rice agriculture includes puddling practices, which facilitate transplanting and weed control easier and lowers water and nutrient loss through percolation. However, in addition to these benefits, the puddling alters the soil's physical properties, which is harmful to subsequent rice crops.100 gridded soil sample was collected from 24 panchayats of Tangi Choudwar.  In this study, soil physical properties like texture, water holding capacity (WHC), and bulk density (BD) were measured in twenty-four panchayats in Tangi Choudwar, Odisha. It was recorded that BD varied from 1.32 to 1.63 Mg/m3 and the WHC of soil varied from 36.70 to 64.70%. The proportion of sand, silt, and clay varied from 35 to 84%, 6 to 34%, and 12 to 38%, respectively. From the correlation study, WHC showed a positive correlation with clay content and a negative correlation with sand content, whereas BD showed negative correlation with the clay content (r=-0.261, P=0.01) and positive with sand content (r=0.167, P=0.05). The findings of this study may provide guidance for effective cultivation management techniques and assist in enhancing crop productivity and soil quality.