Characteristics and Fertility Potential Classification of Rice Soils of Yugoslavia

Rice growing soils representing different soil types in Yugoslavia were characterized for their mechanical components, physical, electrochemical, chemical and clay minetological characters. The influence of parent materials was quite apparent because the soils were young and mostly of alluvium and colluvium (Entisols and Inceptisols), where pedogenic factors had liltle time to play. Fertility potential classification was attempted using factor analysis technique which extracted four independent and uncorrelated factors explaining 75% of the total variability. These factors, in order of importance, were termed as inherent potentiality factor, organic matter factor, phosphate factor and potassium supplying factor. Basing on factor scores, the individual soils were graded for these factors. The ranking of the soils appeared to be quite satisfactory and were in agreement with soil chemical analysis.