Assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields

Abstract Eucalyptus trees around rice fields can provide benefits like acting as windbreaks, reducing soil erosion, and improving drainage, but they may also compete for water and light and release chemicals that inhibit crop growth. Proper management is essential to balance these effects. The curre...

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Main Authors: Md. Saiful Islam, Sujat Ahmed, Md. Main Uddin Miah, Nor Aida Mahiddin, Abdullah Al Bakky, Zulhilmi Ismail, Taher Sahlabji, Abubakr M. Idris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01220-x
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author Md. Saiful Islam
Sujat Ahmed
Md. Main Uddin Miah
Nor Aida Mahiddin
Abdullah Al Bakky
Zulhilmi Ismail
Taher Sahlabji
Abubakr M. Idris
author_facet Md. Saiful Islam
Sujat Ahmed
Md. Main Uddin Miah
Nor Aida Mahiddin
Abdullah Al Bakky
Zulhilmi Ismail
Taher Sahlabji
Abubakr M. Idris
author_sort Md. Saiful Islam
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Eucalyptus trees around rice fields can provide benefits like acting as windbreaks, reducing soil erosion, and improving drainage, but they may also compete for water and light and release chemicals that inhibit crop growth. Proper management is essential to balance these effects. The current study was undertaken to explore the effects of eucalyptus trees along boundaries on the chemical composition of rice field’s soil. In the northern region of Bangladesh, in the Bogra district, surface soils were collected from rice fields. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was used to analyze these samples. The pH of most soil samples was less than 7.0, suggesting a slight acidity. Furthermore, the sub-surface soil samples (214.4, 174.3, and 159.3 µS/cm) had slightly higher electrical conductivity (E.C.) values than the surface soil samples (10.3, 178.3, and 154.3 µS/cm). Significant variations in soil chemical properties such as organic matter content, soil moisture, availability of phosphorus, sulphur, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron were observed across different distances from eucalyptus boundaries. These variations reflect the influence of eucalyptus trees on soil characteristics. A considerable portion of nickel, copper, and zinc was detected in the strongly bound residual phase, while arsenic, cadmium, and lead were bound to carbonate and exchangeable fractions. This research indicates that planting eucalyptus trees could potentially enhance soil fertility in agricultural fields, particularly in areas with concentrated agriculture near industrial zones. The novelty of this research lies in identifying the positive impacts of eucalyptus boundary plantations on soil properties in rice fields.
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spelling doaj-art-df722ceb8fd44e0595cada84a2db256c2025-08-20T01:49:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-01220-xAssessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fieldsMd. Saiful Islam0Sujat Ahmed1Md. Main Uddin Miah2Nor Aida Mahiddin3Abdullah Al Bakky4Zulhilmi Ismail5Taher Sahlabji6Abubakr M. Idris7Department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Agroforestry & Environment, Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU)East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), Universiti Sultan Zainal AbidinAgriculture Wing, Bangladesh Jute Research InstituteCentre for River and Coastal Engineering (CRCE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid UniversityAbstract Eucalyptus trees around rice fields can provide benefits like acting as windbreaks, reducing soil erosion, and improving drainage, but they may also compete for water and light and release chemicals that inhibit crop growth. Proper management is essential to balance these effects. The current study was undertaken to explore the effects of eucalyptus trees along boundaries on the chemical composition of rice field’s soil. In the northern region of Bangladesh, in the Bogra district, surface soils were collected from rice fields. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was used to analyze these samples. The pH of most soil samples was less than 7.0, suggesting a slight acidity. Furthermore, the sub-surface soil samples (214.4, 174.3, and 159.3 µS/cm) had slightly higher electrical conductivity (E.C.) values than the surface soil samples (10.3, 178.3, and 154.3 µS/cm). Significant variations in soil chemical properties such as organic matter content, soil moisture, availability of phosphorus, sulphur, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron were observed across different distances from eucalyptus boundaries. These variations reflect the influence of eucalyptus trees on soil characteristics. A considerable portion of nickel, copper, and zinc was detected in the strongly bound residual phase, while arsenic, cadmium, and lead were bound to carbonate and exchangeable fractions. This research indicates that planting eucalyptus trees could potentially enhance soil fertility in agricultural fields, particularly in areas with concentrated agriculture near industrial zones. The novelty of this research lies in identifying the positive impacts of eucalyptus boundary plantations on soil properties in rice fields.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01220-xEdge plantationEucalyptusGood health and well-beingMultivariate analysisSequential extraction
spellingShingle Md. Saiful Islam
Sujat Ahmed
Md. Main Uddin Miah
Nor Aida Mahiddin
Abdullah Al Bakky
Zulhilmi Ismail
Taher Sahlabji
Abubakr M. Idris
Assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields
Scientific Reports
Edge plantation
Eucalyptus
Good health and well-being
Multivariate analysis
Sequential extraction
title Assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields
title_full Assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields
title_fullStr Assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields
title_short Assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields
title_sort assessing the impact of eucalyptus trees on soil chemical properties in rice fields
topic Edge plantation
Eucalyptus
Good health and well-being
Multivariate analysis
Sequential extraction
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01220-x
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