Subtle shifts under slow-onset climate events: soil health responses across agroecological and conventional rice farmlands in Tropical Asia

This study assessed soil health of Malaysian rice farms facing prolonged extreme temperatures. 33 soil samples were collected over a period of six months (Phases I, II, and III) from three different types of farming systems: Agroecological, conventional, and mixed (combining agroecological and conventional practices). Samples were analysed for Soil Temperature (ST), Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Soil Organic Matter (SOM), soil moisture, and pH. The results showed a significant increase in ST (27.33°C–36.00°C) across all farmland types, particularly during Phases I and III. Agroecological farms maintained higher SOM (2.96%–1.05%) and SOC (20.28%–20.54%) as compared to the mixed and conventional systems. Soil moisture decreased progressively while pH remained consistently acidic (5.37–2.42), with conventional farms showing the highest acidity (pH = 2.42). A significant decline in soil moisture coefficients during Phases I and III further indicated climate stress. The findings highlight that rising soil temperature is a major driver of soil health degradation. Conventional and mixed systems face significant adaptation challenges from climate stress and industrial farming practices. Agroecological practices demonstrate better resilience, offering sustainable strategies for preserving soil health under changing climatic conditions.

Text 126674.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (342kB) Official URL or Download Paper: https://jssm.umt.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/12...

Actions (login required)

View Item