Long-term Investigation of Soil Chemical Properties in Paddy Fields Located in Different Topographic Areas of Jeonbuk Province

The aim of this study was to examine the selected soil chemical properties of paddy fields in different topographic areas to efficiently manage nutrient valances of the paddy fields in Jeonbuk Province. Three-hundred soil sampling sites in paddy fields were selected from the different topographic areas in Jeonbuk Province. The soil samples were collected every four years from 1999 to 2015. Soil pH and exchangeable K and Mg concentrations declined during the experimental periods. However, almost all the chemical properties were within the proper levels for paddy soil, except exchangeable Mg concentration. Distributed areas of the paddy fields with soil pH below 5.5 continuously increased, but the paddy fields with lower concentrations of soil organic matter and available P₂O 5 than the proper levels declined after 2007. In addition, the paddy fields with available SiO₂ below the proper concentration decreased from 83.3% of the total paddy fields studied in 1999 to 61.0% of the total fields investigated in 2015. The paddy fields with lower exchangeable K and Mg than the proper levels increased after 2003 whereas the fields with lower exchangeable Ca concentration decreased. Dominant landform of coastal and plain areas was fluvio-marine plains that was distributed in 53.7% and 40.9%, respectively. Local valley and fans was a dominant landform of mountainous and middle-mountainous areas, which was 51.8% and 67.6%, respectively. Dominant soil textures distributed in coastal and plain areas were silty loam and loam. Those in mountainous and middle-mountainous areas were sandy loam and loam, respectively. Soil pH was relatively higher in coastal area and the comparatively higher content of soil organic matter was found in costal area than other areas. The concentrations of available P₂O 5 , exchangeable Ca, and exchangeable Mg were generally higher in mountainous, coastal, plain areas, respectively, but available SiO₂ and exchangeable K concentrations were not significantly different among the different topographic areas.