Crop performance in lowland soils is influenced by management practices due to change in physico-chemical properties. Grain yield decrease in continuous monoculture of irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) may be associated with decrease in soil fertility due to leaching of nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate effect of water management (WM1 - continuous flooding, and WM2 - intermittent flooding followed by continuous flooding) and potassium fertilization (K1 - at sowing; K2 - fractional application, and K3 - fractional application at half rate) on soil chemical properties of Low Humic Gley (Inceptisol) soil planted with irrigated rice during three consecutive years. Under continuous flooding treatment, there was more leaching of calcium and potassium, content of P, Al saturation and low pH in the top 0 - 20 cm soil depth in relation to intermittent flooding. At lower soil depth, there was an increase in extractable K and pH and decrease in Al saturation. Intermittent flooding and fractional application of K can contribute in reducing nutrient leaching in lowland soils due to excessive water percolation. Some soil properties can be improved by crop management practices such as water and K management.
nutrients; pH; aluminum saturation; sum of bases; leaching
