Summary
This review synthesises peer-reviewed literature comparing microbial biomass between paddy and upland soils, proposing that flooded paddy conditions support substantially higher microbial biomass than aerobic upland systems. The authors examine putative mechanisms—including waterlogging effects, anaerobic metabolism, substrate availability, and soil redox dynamics—that may explain these differences. The work contributes to understanding how soil hydrology fundamentally shapes microbial community structure and function in agro-ecosystems.
UK applicability
Given the United Kingdom's cool temperate climate and limited paddy rice cultivation, direct application to UK farming practice is modest. However, the mechanistic insights into how soil hydrology and oxygen availability drive microbial biomass may inform understanding of waterlogged soils, wetland restoration, or drainage management in UK arable and grassland systems.
Key measures
Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and related soil microbiological parameters in paddy versus upland soil ecosystems
Outcomes reported
This review examines the comparative microbial biomass content in paddy (flooded rice) versus upland soils, synthesising evidence on the origins, mechanisms, and environmental drivers of these differences.
Topic tags
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