WATER AND NUTRIENT DYNAMICS OF A PADDY SOIL OF BANGLADESH

The objectives of the study were the changes in water tension, redox potential, and the pH value of a silty Eutric Gleysol from young river sediments near Mymensingh, the nutrient concentration of soil solution, as well as the supply of nutrients by rain, irrigation and fertilizing, and the uptake of nutrients by rice during the year. In the case of nitrogen, a moderate loss was observed, caused by the leaching of NH4, and significant losses due to volatilisation and denitrification. Fertilized P was enriched in the soil. The leaching of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn was clearly higher than the addition by rain, irrigation and fertilization. It is concluded, that the loss of nutrients was caused by weathering.