Flooded rice soils of Northern Australia. 1. Changes in salinity

Abstract

Soil salinity, pH, and Eh were determined in two soil types on the Adelaide River plains (Northern Territory) throughout the growing period of a rice crop. Both the total salinity, as indicated by specific conductivity values of the soil solution, and individual ion species were followed at 30 sites in each soil. The results demonstrated the existence of salt gradients within the soil profiles and these gradients, together with the total salt concentration and ion ratios, remained relatively constant throughout the growing season. The results are discussed in terms of experimental methods commonly employed for determining the effects of soil solution properties on rice culture.