Paddy Soils: Characteristics, Productivity and Management

Rice is a very important crop for human nutrition globally, and most rice soils and their processes are exceptional because they are flooded for a considerable part of the year. The rice production system underwent big changes following the Green Revolution, with much greater irrigated areas, more crops grown per year, and the increasing use of agro-chemicals to achieve much higher yields. This article describes the major cropping environments, outlines the distribution and main characteristics of “paddy soils”, presents the basics and advances of soil fertility and nutrient management, and discusses important sustainability problems of rice soils and cropping systems.