Soil and Tillage Research· 2026Q1
Dryland-to-paddy conversion enhances hydrological functioning by reshaping soil structure in the hilly red soil region of southern China
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- 2026year
Short summary
Converting dryland to paddy fields for 30 years (PF30) significantly increases soil organic carbon (SOC) by up to 187.6% and enhances water retention properties (saturated water content, field capacity, plant-available water) by up to 136.5% compared to 1-year conversions (PF1).
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Key points
- Long-term paddy cultivation (30 years) increases surface SOC by 181.8–187.6% compared to 1-year cultivation.
- Short-term conversion (1-6 years) leads to macropore collapse, reducing porosity by 61.7–78.9% in the topsoil.
- Paddy cultivation shifts soil structure from aeration-dominant to water-retention-dominant.
- PF30 significantly enhances soil water retention: saturated water content by 16.0–33.1%, field capacity by 20.1–39.6%, and plant-available water by 29.2–136.5% versus PF1–6.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil structure are key determinants of soil hydraulic properties. However, the roles of SOC fractions and soil structure in regulating hydraulic behavior during dryland (DL) conversion to paddy fields (PF) in the hilly red soil region of southern China remain insufficiently understood. This study evaluated dryland and paddy fields cultivated for 1 year (PF1), 3 years (PF3), 6 years (PF6), and 30 years (PF30) to quantify their effects on SOC composition, soil structure, and soil hydraulic properties. The results indicated that the SOC content increased with rice cultivation duration in the surface soil (0–20 cm), with PF30 exhibiting 181.8–187.6% higher SOC than PF1. In contrast, SOC downward translocation was evident in young dryland-to-paddy (PF1–6) in the subsurface layer (20–50 cm). The SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), humic extractable carbon (HE-C), and humin carbon (HU-C) of PF1–6 decreased by only 17.5–35.6% compared with the surface soil, while PF30 decreased by 71.5–87.6%. Short-term dryland-to-paddy conversion (PF1–6) induced macropore collapse, with soil porosity (Φ > 116 µm) in the 0–10 cm layer reduced by 61.7–78.9% compared with PF30. In contrast, organic carbon pool accumulation and progressive soil agglomeration reconstructed water-retentive micropores, suggests that soil structural function is undergoing a transition from aeration to water retention. PF30 produced a porous and stable soil structure, significantly enhancing soil water retention, as indicated by the increases in saturated water content ( θs , 16.0–33.1%), field capacity (FC, 20.1–39.6%), and plant-available water (PAW, 29.2–136.5%) compared with PF1–6 in the surface soil (0–20 cm). These findings provide new insights into soil structural reconfiguration and hydraulic functioning during dryland-to-paddy conversion.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Soil and Tillage Research, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Soil Science
Soil ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences