The effect of soil texture and organic amendment on the hydrological behaviour of coarse-textured soils

To gain more insight into the hydrological behaviour of coarse-textured soils, the physical properties of artificially created soil mixtures with different texture were determined. The mixtures were prepared according to the specifications of the United States Golf Association (USGA) for constructing putting greens. In addition, the effect of 10 vol.% organic matter addition was studied. The soil moisture retention and hydraulic conductivity relationships of the different mixtures were determined and their hydrological behaviour was studied using the numerical model SoWaM. Both texture and organic matter addition substantially affected the hydraulic properties. Hydraulic conductivity significantly increased with increasing coarseness while moisture retention decreased. On the other hand, organic matter addition reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity by a factor of 10 to 100 and distinctly increased moisture retention capacity. The amounts of total available water were increased by the addition of organic matter between 144% (slightly coarse texture) and 434% (very coarse texture). Results indicate that the mixtures can contain only 2–16% plant available water and therefore need frequent irrigation to maintain plant growth. Addition of organic matter seems a good solution to reduce the irrigation water requirements but it increases the risk of ponding or runoff because of large reductions in the saturated hydraulic conductivity sometimes to below the rate of 3.6 m/day recommended by the USGA.     

Soil acidity factors and growth of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in acid hill soils

Abstract. Correlation analysis was used to determine the main factors related to soil pH and to yield of white clover in a range of hill soils. Results for 109 Northern Ireland pasture soils showed that pH (H₂O) was significantly correlated with exchangeable Ca, total exchangeable bases, base saturation, P, exchangeable Al and Al saturation, but not with exchangeable Mn. Clover yield (dry weight of shoots) in 12 acid soils from Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Falkland Islands was significantly correlated with exchangeable Ca, total exchangeable bases and Al saturation. The results support the use of Al saturation rather than exchangeable Al, soil solution Al or pH when calculating lime requirements to overcome these limiting factors in hill soils.     

泰国水稻土Fe还原细菌对盐分和有机物改良的响应

In paddy soils of Thailand,the addition of organic matter (OM) is used to efficiently limit the effect of salinity on rice culture and production.OM used as an amendment and fertilizer promotes the reduced condition and increases iron solubilization without provoking ferrous toxicity.In this study,the intricate biogeochemical role of iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) involved in the quality of water and soil of paddy fields,particularly when the paddy fields were subject to salinity and organic matter addition,were studied in paddy fields of Thailand.The results demonstrated that the addition of OM increased the proliferation of cultivable IRB and their specific activity.Cultivable IRB communities decreased in the presence of salt.The presence of salt modified the structure of the bacterial populations by favoring the development of alkaline and moderately halophilic bacteria (Virgibacillus spp.,Oceanobacillus spp.,and Paenibacillus spp.).The paddy soils studied contained very diversified (halosensitive,halotolerant,and halophilic) IRB populations that could be adapted to a variety of salinity conditions (0-90 g L 1 NaCl) using different organic substrates (glucose,acetate,and soil organic matter) to maintain significant activities under extreme conditions of salinity.The rhizosphere of rice stimulated IRB community growth without organic matter,whereas organic matter addition limited the rhizosphere effect on IRB cultivable number in saline condition.The interactive action of salinity and organic amendment had a negative impact on the rhizosphere effect.The presence of specific iron-reducing populations (fermentative,iron-respiring,anaerobic,and facultative anaerobic),having different behaviors under salt and redox stresses,appeared to be a key factor that contributed to the control or enhancement of the quality of water and soil in paddy fields.     

Interaction between AM fungi and a liquid organic amendment with respect to enhancement of the performance of the leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa

This study examined the interactions between the inoculation with three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, namely, Glomus intraradices, Glomus deserticola and Glomus mosseae, and the addition of a liquid organic amendment at different rates (0, 50, 100 or 300 mg C of liquid amendment per kilogram soil) obtained by alkaline extraction of composted dry olive residue with respect to their effects on growth of Retama sphaerocarpa seedlings and on some microbiological and physical properties of soil. One year after planting, both mycorrhizal inoculation treatments and the addition of amendment had increased plant growth and dehydrogenase, urease and benzoyl argininamide hydrolysing activities. The inoculation with G. mosseae increased plant growth to a greater extent than the addition of the amendment (about 35% greater than plants grown in the amended soil and about 79% greater than control plants) and both treatments produced similar increases in soil aggregate stability (about 31% higher than control soil). The organic amendment produced a very significant decrease in the levels of microbial biomass C and a strong increase in soil dehydrogenase and urease activities, which were proportional to the amendment rate. Only the combined treatment involving the addition of a medium dose of amendment (100 mg C kg⁻¹ soil) and the mycorrhizal inoculation with G. intraradices or G. deserticola produced an additive effect on the plant growth with respect to the treatments applied individually (about 77% greater than plants grown in the amended soil and about 63% greater than inoculated plants).     

Impact of spent coffee grounds as organic amendment on soil fertility and lettuce growth in two Mediterranean agricultural soils

The use of spent coffee grounds (SCG) as organic amendment is a triple solution: a reuse of this bio-residue (6 millions of tons per year), an increase in soil organic carbon (SCG contain 82% of carbohydrates and 13% of proteins) and a decrease in CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere. Thus, we investigate the effect of SCG on soil and plants in an in vitro assay. The variables considered were SCG dose (2.5 and 10%), two agricultural soils (Calcisol and Luvisol), and four cultivation times (15, 30, 45 and 60 days). The chemical and physicochemical soil properties, SEM images and growth parameters were analyzed. The highest dose of SCG increased organic carbon, total N and available K and P by 286%, 188%, 45%, and 9%, respectively, while decreasing lettuce growth by 233% compared to control. The SEM study revealed that SCG particles are incorporated into soil aggregates and microorganisms grow over them, which is also corroborated by a 10-times increase of soil respiration rate. The behavior of both soils differs for some SCG effects. In conclusion, SCG have a great potential to increase soil fertility and further investigations are needed in order to improve the use of SCG as amendment.     

The effect of residual copper levels on the nutrition and yield of oats grown in microplots on three organic soils

Abstract

Oats (Avena sativa L. cv. Garry) were grown in microplots of three organic soils at site A (peat), site B (muck) and site C (mucky peat) in the summer of 1983. The soil surface (0 to 20 cm) varied in total Cu from 13 to 1659, 135 to 1745, and 81 to 1063 μg/g at sites A, B and C, respectively, due to applications of CuSO₄.5H₂O made at three rates in 1978, at sites A and B, and in 1979 at site C. Neither the rates of Cu application nor total soil Cu influenced yields. High levels of residual Cu increased the levels of Cu in straw at sites A and B, and in grain at site C. However, even the highest levels of Cu in straw and grains, were below the 20 μg/g which is often considered to be the threshold of Cu phytotoxicity. Data on the levels of other nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Mo and S) in the tops and roots of oats generally revealed no significantly adverse effects of the Cu applications or total accumulated Cu in the three soils.     

Influence of organic amendment on the adsorption and leaching of ethametsulfuron-methyl in acidic soils in China

The sorption and leaching of ethametsulfuron-methyl by an acidic soil, after organic amendment with humic acid (HA) and a commercial peat, were studied in batch and soil column experiments. Adsorption capacity (K_f) values, obtained by fitting the experimental data to the Freundlich equation, ranged from 4.39 for the original soil containing 1.02% OC to 10.56 for the organic amended soils containing 2.61% OC. The increase in herbicide adsorption by organic amendment addition to soil was attributed to the high adsorptive capacity of the insoluble organic matter added to the soil. Evidence provided by FT-IR analysis suggested multifunctional hydrogen bonds were involved in the adsorption of ethametsulfuron-methyl on organic matter. The distribution of ethametsulfuron-methyl along the soil profile, obtained from soil column experiments, indicated that the amount of ethametsulfuron-methyl retained ranged from 68.4% for the column filled with the original soil to 92.4% for that filled with the organic amended soil. Amounts of ethametsulfuron-methyl recovered in the leachates, which ranged from 7.7% (organic amended soil) to 23.7% (unamended soil) of that applied, depended upon the loading rate and the source of organic amendment. Organic amendments significantly reduced the leaching of ethametsulfuron-methyl, and humic acid showed the higher potential than peat. This research suggests that organic amendment may be an effective management practice for controlling pesticide leaching.     

Interactions between a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium,an AM fungus and a phosphate-solubilising fungus in the rhizosphere of Lactuca sativa

This study evaluated the interactions between the inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, Bacillus subtilis, and a filamentous soil fungus, Aspergillus niger, with respect to their effects on growth of lettuce plants and on indicators of biological soil quality (microbial biomass C, water-soluble C and carbohydrates and dehydrogenase, urease, acid phosphatase and benzoyl argininamide hydrolyzing protease activities). Water-soluble carbohydrates and microbial biomass were increased only in the rhizosphere soil of G. intraradices-plants. Rhizosphere soil from all microbial inoculation treatments had significantly higher dehydrogenase activity than the control soil, particularly in the soil inoculated with B. subtilis (about 21% higher than control soil). Inoculation with A. niger or B. subtilis increased significantly the urease, protease and phosphatase activities of the rhizosphere soil of the lettuce plants. The foliar P and K contents increased significantly with the B. subtilis or G. intraradices inoculation, alone or in combination. The most effective co-inoculation was observed in the combined treatment of inoculation with G. intraradices and B. subtilis, which synergistically increased plant growth compared with singly inoculated (about 77% greater with respect to the control plants).     

玉米—花生混作对改善花生铁营养及固氮的影响

盆栽试验模拟研究结果表明,当花生单作时,花生新叶出现严重的缺铁黄化症状,而与玉米混作时,铁营养明显地改善。与单作相比,花生新叶叶绿素含量明显提高,总吸铁量增加１９．４％,根瘤吸铁量提高３２．７２％,根瘤干重增加２５．８９％,单株固氮酶活性和单位根瘤固氮酶活性分别增加４４７．０６％和４０８．６９％,这说明,在石灰性土壤上,玉米—花生混作对花生铁营养的改善及对花生根瘤固氮起了重要的作用。     

基质未灭菌和灭菌条件下接种AM 真菌 对香橙砧木生长的影响

在基质灭菌条件下接种丛枝菌根（AM）真菌能促进植物生长发育,但在未灭菌条件下接种AM真菌鲜有报道。因此,在温室盆栽条件下,以香橙砧木（Citrus Junossieb ex Tanaka）为材料,研究了不同处理基质（灭菌和未灭菌）及接种AM真菌对香橙砧木的根系菌根侵染率、株高、茎径、叶片数、生物量及根系性状的影响。探讨在模拟自然条件（基质未灭菌）下接种AM真菌其接种效应是否仍然有效。研究结果表明：在基质灭菌条件下,接种黄雷克囊霉（Redeckera fulvum）(R.f)处理的株高、叶片数、地上干重、生物量和根系性状显著优于未接种菌根处理,而接种凹坑无梗囊霉（Acaulospora excavata）(A.e)处理的株高、茎径、叶片数、生物量低于未接种处理,但无显著差异。而根系性状显著优于对照;在基质未灭菌条件下,除了接种R.f处理的总根长显著高于未接种处理外,其他指标均与未接种处理无显著差异。这表明在盆栽试验中基质灭菌条件下,接种R.f处理能提高香橙砧木生长,接种A.e处理能抑制其生长,但在基质未灭菌条件下,接种两种AM真菌的香橙砧木生长与对照无显著影响,没有表现出在基质灭菌条件下...     

Diversity of native rhizobia isolated in south Brazil and their growth promotion effect on white clover (Trifolium repens) and rice (Oryza sativa) plants

In this study, rhizobia strains isolated from white clover (Trifolium repens) root nodules were evaluated in an effort to identify an efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia strain that can also improve the growth of rice plants (Oryza sativa). White clover plants were collected from seven sites in south Brazil, and 78 native rhizobia isolates were obtained. The genetic diversity analysis of those isolates was carried out by BOX-polymerase chain reaction. Overall, the native rhizobia isolated showed a high genetic diversity, but when the bacterial isolates from the same site were compared, the diversity was lower. One native rhizobia, POA3 (isolated from the Porto Alegre locality), was able to promote the growth of both plants and is therefore a good candidate for new inoculant formulation. Finally, we can conclude that the community of native rhizobia symbiont of white clover plants in southern Brazil is highly diverse and the growth promotion effect of rhizobia inoculation on rice plants was more pronounced in a poor nutrient substrate condition than in a rich nutrient substrate condition.     

The effect of warming on the vulnerability of subducted organic carbon in arctic soils

Arctic permafrost soils contain large stocks of organic carbon (OC). Extensive cryogenic processes in these soils cause subduction of a significant part of OC-rich topsoil down into mineral soil through the process of cryoturbation. Currently, one-fourth of total permafrost OC is stored in subducted organic horizons. Predicted climate change is believed to reduce the amount of OC in permafrost soils as rising temperatures will increase decomposition of OC by soil microorganisms. To estimate the sensitivity of OC decomposition to soil temperature and oxygen levels we performed a 4-month incubation experiment in which we manipulated temperature (4–20 °C) and oxygen level of topsoil organic, subducted organic and mineral soil horizons. Carbon loss (C_LOSS) was monitored and its potential biotic and abiotic drivers, including concentrations of available nutrients, microbial activity, biomass and stoichiometry, and extracellular oxidative and hydrolytic enzyme pools, were measured. We found that independently of the incubation temperature, C_LOSS from subducted organic and mineral soil horizons was one to two orders of magnitude lower than in the organic topsoil horizon, both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This corresponds to the microbial biomass being lower by one to two orders of magnitude. We argue that enzymatic degradation of autochthonous subducted OC does not provide sufficient amounts of carbon and nutrients to sustain greater microbial biomass. The resident microbial biomass relies on allochthonous fluxes of nutrients, enzymes and carbon from the OC-rich topsoil. This results in a “negative priming effect”, which protects autochthonous subducted OC from decomposition at present. The vulnerability of subducted organic carbon in cryoturbated arctic soils under future climate conditions will largely depend on the amount of allochthonous carbon and nutrient fluxes from the topsoil.     

Denitrification in the rooting zone of cropped soils with regard to methodology and climate: A review

Summary Denitrification N losses can be determined by three methods. The first is by estimating the non-recovery of ¹⁵ N-labelled compounds (¹⁵N-balance method). Using this method, denitrification losses are deduced from the balance of an N budged (¹⁵N-labeled fertilizer), having accounted for transformations in soil, plant uptake, and leaching losses. The evolution of gaseous N from native soil N is not taken into account by this procedure. Studies on arable land with annual crops in the temperate zone have shown that of the fertilizer N applied, about 20–500% (10–70 kg N^* ha^–1) is not recovered at the end of the growth period. The second method of determining denitrification N losses is by in situ field measurement of ¹⁵ N ₂ and ¹⁵ N ₂ O production. Under this procedure, ¹⁵N-enriched N is applied to a plot and the denitrification N losses are determined by covering the soil. The method allows a quantitative estimate of the relative contributions to the emitted gas by both the original enriched source and the native soil N. N-evolution rates measured on arable land under a temperate climate are approximately the same order of magnitude as the N losses estimated by the non-recovery of ¹⁵ N method. The third measuring procedure is based on the acetylene inhibition phenomenon. This principle uses the inhibition of bacterial N₂O reduction to N₂ in the presence of acetylene (C₂H₂). The methoddetermines the denitrification of all NO₃ ^–-N irrespective of its source. Measurements on classical crop production systems show maximum N losses in the temperate climate of about 20–30 kg N^* ha^–1 during the growth period of annual crops. A similar level of denitrification is estimated for grassland sites under the same climate. In the subtropics (mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters), from both intensively cultivated arable land and grassland sites, N losses may exceed 200 kg^* ha^–1 year^–1. Without the use of irrigation the denitrification flux is negligible in spite of the high temperatures in this climate.     

The potential of mycorrhizal inoculation and organic amendment to increase yields of Galega orientalis and Helianthus tuberosus in a spoil‐bank substrate

An agricultural use of reclaimed coal‐mine spoil banks is limited to nonfood crop uses and provides potential for biofuel crops. Two high‐biomass crops—Galega orientalis and Helianthus tuberosus—were cultivated in a greenhouse pot experiment conducted in sterilized and nonsterile spoil bank clay. We aimed (1) to determine the possibility of reducing the applied rate of organic amendments (thus decreasing the costs of spoil‐bank reclamation) and (2) to assess whether the inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant growth and biomass accumulation of bioenergy crops even in nonsterile soil containing naturally occurring AMF. The spoil substrate was either unamended or treated with a mixture of composted urban waste and ligno‐cellulose at a rate corresponding to 40 t ha^–1. Three native AMF isolates or three isolates from the International Bank of Glomeromycota (BEG) originating from man‐made ecosystems were used for inoculation. Generally, both plant species positively responded to both mycorrhizal inoculation and organic amendment. While G. orientalis did not show any preferences towards the AMF inoculum origin in the nonsterile soil, for H. tuberosus the specific combination of organic amendment and BEG isolates resulted in highest yields of shoot biomass. The study shows that the successful planting of both tested crops requires the organic amendment. However, its dosage can be substantially reduced. The effectiveness of mycorrhizal inoculation can vary for the combination of plant species and the origin of the applied AMF.     

The effect of copper applications on the movement of copper and other elements in organic soils

Copper concentrations should be maintained at 100 ppm (gg Cu g^?1 dry soil) in the surface layers of undecomposed peat soils, and 400 ppm in humified muck soils. The Cu supports plant nutrition, and inhibits enzymes that degrade the organic soils (Histosols). The required or extravagant applications of Cu may threaten groundwater quality if the Cu, or elements displaced by the Cu, moves downwards in the soils. To test this, powdered CUSO₄.5H₂O was applied to the top 15 cm of replicated microplots of organic soils to increase their Cu concentrations by 0, 150, 500, and 1500 ppm at field sites A (peat) and B (muck) in May 1978 and by 0, 100, 300, and 800 ppm at field site C (mucky peat) in 1979. Duplicate cores of up to 50 cm depth were taken in the spring of 1981 from each of the 56 microplots and analyzed. At all sites, none of the Cu additions caused significant displacement and downward movement of Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Mn, or Zn. There was a leaching of small fractions of the applied Cu down to 40 cm depth only when 1500 ppm of Cu was added to the humus-poor, acidic peat at site A. Some of the Cu applied at the 500 ppm rate at site A and 1500 ppm rate at site B was found in the 20 to 30 cm zone. At site C, none of the applied Cu moved from the top 20 cm (plow layer).     

The influence of variations in soil copper on the yield and nutrition of spinach grown in microplots on two organic soils

Abstract

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Symphony) was grown in spring 1982 in field microplots of an organic soil (site I a mucky peat) containing 81 to 1063 μg Cu.g^‐1 soil, and cv. America of the same crop taken in summer 1982 on a peaty organic soil (site II) varying in Cu content from 13 to 1659 μg.g^‐1. The variations in soil Cu were mainly due to three rates of Cu applications in 1978 at site II and in 1979 at site I. At site I, the diversity in soil‐Cu had no effect on yield or foliar‐Cu levels in the crop. At site II soil‐Cu was positively correlated with yield and foliar Cu; and negatively with leaf Fe due to a dilution effect. Neither soil Cu nor foliar Cu had any significant effect on Mo in leaves at both sites, except that the increase in yield due to the highest level of Cu at site II was accompanied by an increased plant uptake of Mo. Also, foliar Cu was positively correlated with P, Mg and Mn levels in leaves at site I; and foliar Ca, Mg and Mn at site II.

Residual soil Cu up to 1063 μg.g^‐1 in a mucky peat and 16 59 μg.g^‐1 in a peat showed no signs of causing phytotoxocity or significant nutritional imbalance.     

The mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices and rock phosphate amendment influence plant growth and microbial activity in the rhizosphere of Acacia holosericea

Plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi utilize more soluble phosphorus from soil mineral phosphate than non-inoculated plants. However, there is no information on the response of soil microflora to mineral phosphate weathering by AM fungi and, in particular, on the catabolic diversity of soil microbial communities.The AM fungus, Glomus intraradices was examined for (i) its effect on the growth of Acacia holosericea, (ii) plant-available phosphate and (iii) soil microbial activity with and without added rock phosphate.After 4-months culture, AM fungal inoculation significantly increased the plant biomasses (by 1.78× and 2.23× for shoot and root biomasses, respectively), while mineral phosphate amendment had no effect in a sterilized soil. After 12-months culture, the biomasses of A. holosericea plants growing in a non-sterilized soil amended with mineral phosphate were significantly higher than those recorded in the control treatment (by 2.5× and 5× for shoot and root biomasses, respectively). The fungal inoculation also significantly stimulated plant growth, which was significantly higher than that measured in the mineral phosphate treatment. When G. intraradices and mineral phosphate were added together to the soil, shoot growth were significantly stimulated over the single treatments (inoculation or amendment) (1.45×). The P leaf mineral content was also higher in the G. intraradices+mineral phosphate treatment than in G. intraradices or rock phosphate amendment. Moreover, the number of fluorescent pseudomonads has been significantly increased when G. intraradices and/or mineral phosphate were added to the soil. By using a specific type of multivariate analysis (co-inertia analysis), it has been shown that plant growth was positively correlated to the metabolization of ketoglutaric acid, and negatively linked to the metabolisation of phenylalanine and other substrates, which shows that microbial activity is also affected.G. intraradices inoculation is highly beneficial to the growth of A. holosericea plants in controlled conditions. This AM symbiosis optimises the P solubilization from the mineral phosphate and affects microbial activity in the hyphosphere of A. holosericea plants.     

Use of the RothC model to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils

Abstract

We estimated the carbon (C) sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils at a country scale by applying the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model at a 1-km resolution. After establishing the baseline soil organic carbon (SOC) content for 1990, a 25-year simulation was run for four management scenarios: A (minimum organic matter application), B (farmyard manure application), C (double cropping for paddy fields) and D (both B and C). The total SOC decreased during the simulation in all four scenarios because the C input in all four scenarios was lower than that required to maintain the baseline 1990 SOC level. Scenario A resulted in the greatest depletion, reflecting the effects of increased organic matter application in the other scenarios. The 25-year difference in SOC accumulation between scenario A and scenarios B, C and D was 32.3, 11.1 and 43.4?Mt?C, respectively. The annual SOC accumulation per unit area was similar to a previous estimate, and the 25-year averages were 0.30, 0.10 and 0.41?t?C?ha^?1?year^?1 for scenarios B, C and D, respectively. The system we developed in the present study, that is, linking the RothC model and soil spatial data, can be useful for estimating the potential C sequestration resulting from an increase in organic matter input to Japanese arable soils, although more feasible scenarios need to be developed to enable more realistic estimation.     

Use of the RothC model to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils

We estimated the carbon (C) sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils at a country scale by applying the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model at a 1-km resolution. After establishing the baseline soil organic carbon (SOC) content for 1990, a 25-year simulation was run for four management scenarios: A (minimum organic matter application), B (farmyard manure application), C (double cropping for paddy fields) and D (both B and C). The total SOC decreased during the simulation in all four scenarios because the C input in all four scenarios was lower than that required to maintain the baseline 1990 SOC level. Scenario A resulted in the greatest depletion, reflecting the effects of increased organic matter application in the other scenarios. The 25-year difference in SOC accumulation between scenario A and scenarios B, C and D was 32.3, 11.1 and 43.4 Mt C, respectively. The annual SOC accumulation per unit area was similar to a previous estimate, and the 25-year averages were 0.30, 0.10 and 0.41 t C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for scenarios B, C and D, respectively. The system we developed in the present study, that is, linking the RothC model and soil spatial data, can be useful for estimating the potential C sequestration resulting from an increase in organic matter input to Japanese arable soils, although more feasible scenarios need to be developed to enable more realistic estimation.     

Studies on organic acids in paddy field soils with reference to their inhibitory effects on the growth of rice plants

Many Studies (1) have been made on the physiological diseases of rice plants caused by root rot which develops during the plant growth. The view that organic acids; accumulatted in rice paddy soil may be one of the factors impeding the function of roots began only recently to be expressed concerning the low productive paddy fidds. However, studies on the metabolism of these organic acids, especially of saturated lower fatty acids, are mostly fragmental except for a series of studies made by Takai and others (2). To deal with the problem of root injuries and diseases of rice plants, we must establish the magnitude of the organic acid production in relation to the differences in character of soils.