Micromorphometric and Micromorphological Investigations of Two Soils in Temperate Rice Fields

Porosity, shape and size distribution of pores were studied for two years on two flooded rice soils during the cultural cycle of rice. Measurements were carried out on thin sections prepared from undisturbed soil samples by means of electro-optical image analysis. Total porosity (percentage of pore area) increased during the rice cultural cycle in both the soils, while the pore number showed a decrease. Micromor phological observations revealed presence in the Ap horizon of pedological features like organo-ferrans and ferrans and the ferric-rings around plant roots. These were less evident and were also of lesser thickness in soil 2 than in soil 1.