• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 1997

This study was carried out to find the physico-chemical properties of soils and the rice growth at the pilot project rice farm of Buchanan city, Liberia. The results were as follows. Soils were classified as Plinthic Ferralsols. Real tropical soils had an oxic B horizon of 30cm thick with diffused horizon boundaries. The surface soils have Ochric A horizon with low organic matter. Plinthite was distributed throughout the whole soil profile unevenly. Exposed to sun light, Plinthite was dried out, hardened, and developed irreversibly into ironstone. There were 286 termite hills in 20ha in the project area. The pH value of the termite hills was higher than that of the ordinary soil two units. Soils of the termite hills had higher contents of carbon, nitrogen, available phosphate and exchangeable bases, especially calcium(2,000mg/kg). Available Fe contents was 230~330mg/kg in the surface soil, and 2,200mg/kg in the subsoil. This caused bronzing of rice in a few days after transplanting. The tolerance of Fe toxicity was lower in Korean cultivars than in Liberian cultivars. The tolerant cultivar was Hangang among Korean cultivars and Nizersail and Suakoko 8 among Liberian cultivars. Area weighted average percolation rate was 8.3mm/day and infiltration rate was 2~2.5mm/hr.