ASSESSMENT OF CHARACTERISTICS OF SALINE SOIL FOR RICE CULTIVATION IN SOME COASTAL PROVINCES OF THE MEKONG DELTA

Abstract

Saline soil is one of the main soil types in the Mekong delta, essentially alluvial soil contaminated with saline groundwater or saline surface water. In recent years, due to climate change, the ​saline soil in the Mekong delta has tended to increase in area and salinity level. Soil salinity directly affects agricultural production in the region, including rice production. The results of the assessment of the characteristics of rice cultivation land contaminated low, medium, and high salinity in some provinces in the Mekong delta showed that there was no increase in the level of salinity. The total nutrient content and soil fertility were average to good. Except for soil salinity, the physical and chemical properties of low, medium and high salinity soils were still at a suitable level for rice cultivation. Some limiting factors of the soil include high salinity, bulk density and average levels of macronutrients and micronutrients.