ABSTRACT
Soil submergence with water induces anaerobiosis or microaerophyllic conditions in the upper horizons where crop roots have to grow and absorb nutrients. The soil physicochemical condition during rice production is therefore enormously different from those encountered by roots of crops cultivated under arable conditions. Most striking is the fact that rice crop, that is grown in rotation and soil biota will all have to adapt to rapidly changing, and alternating aerobic and anaerobic conditions, plus have to be versatile in garnering soil nutrients that occur in different physicochemical states, efficiently. Most farmers and agricultural researchers do not pay heed to such massive alteration of soil environment. We need to understand the principle changes that occur in soil physicochemical environment and crop growth in expanses that experience such crop rotations involving flooded rice and an arable crop.
