Dry Soil Research Articles

The water vapor distribution profile in dry soil layer during evaporating with high spatial resolution monitored by distributed fibre-optic sensing technology

The dry soil layer (DSL) typically forms on the surface of sandy soils during the evaporation process, with water in the DSL moving solely as vapor. Understanding the DSL thickness and its water vapor distribution is crucial for accurately estimating soil water flux, improving evaporation mechanisms, and enhancing ecological conservation efforts. This study employed distributed fibre-optic sensing (DFOS) technology to achieve high spatial resolution measurements (up to 1 mm) of the water vapor distribution within the DSL. We measured soil water vapor profiles in a sand column subjected to evaporation over 24 days using a 60 cm long relative humidity sensing probe and an optical frequency domain reflection (OFDR) interrogator. We effectively captured the downward migration of the evaporating surface from the sand surface and quantified the inhibitory effect of DSL thickness on evaporation using a logarithmic function. Additionally, we identified a linear distribution of water vapor with depth in the DSL. Our findings offer novel insights into the role of DSL in the hydrological behaviour of unsaturated soils and demonstrate the potential of our approach for investigating dynamic changes in in-situ DSLs, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

Strong decline in grasshopper abundance over 20 years without major land-use changes: Is soil drying one of the drivers?

Strong declines in insect numbers have been described for different taxa and regions. These observations are of great concern such that broad scientific and public attention has been raised. Among other urgencies, the need for long-term insect data has been identified. Here, we present data on grasshopper (Caelifera) abundances recorded between 1992 and 2011 at over 600 sites in north-western Switzerland. While vegetation type, often semi-natural grasslands, had remained largely constant, total grasshopper abundance declined by around 50 % (while many other taxa showed much less decline). Numbers in July remained relatively stable until about 2003 but then declined similar to the declines seen in August–October already before. Greatest losses were observed for drier habitats and steeper slopes, suggesting that soil drying might be an important factor for the decline. Second, more nutrient-rich habitats suffered greater losses; possible reasons for this include small-scale vegetation changes in these habitats e.g. due to atmospheric nitrogen deposition, or isolation of sites. Other than abundance, species richness decreased much less, illustrating that important ecological changes may be strongly underestimated when only species lists are available. The strong declines at our sites, which often are in an agri-environmental scheme, is alarming. Apart from being yet another call to fight climate change, our results also point to the urgent need to reduce atmospheric nitrogen deposition and to continue extensive farming, but also to adapt it in preparation of expected effects of climate change, with the aim to favour a divers, ecologically robust insect community.

Afforestation Reduces Deep Soil Carbon Sequestration in Semiarid Regions: Lessons From Variations of Soil Water and Carbon Along Afforestation Stages in China's Loess Plateau

AbstractAfforestation represents an effective approach for ecosystem restoration and carbon (C) sequestration. Nonetheless, it poses notable challenges concerning water depletion and soil drought in (semi)arid regions. The underlying mechanisms regulating the influence of afforestation on soil carbon‐water dynamics, particularly how deep soil C reacts to afforestation‐induced soil drying, remain largely unclear. This study examined the variations of soil water content (SWC), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) in 500 cm depth along four afforestation stages: abandoned grasslands, shrublands, and 20‐year and 40‐year Robinia pseudoacacia forests (RP20 and RP40) in the semiarid Loess Plateau, China. The results indicated that afforestation has significantly increased SWC (+26.6%), SOC (+44.5%), and SIC (+6.5%) in the shallow layer (0–100 cm) but caused evident soil drying (−60.8%), decrease in SOC (−37.8%), and slight reduction in SIC (−0.3%) in the deep layer (300–500 cm) when compared with grasslands. The seriously decline in the coupling coordination between soil C and SWC in the middle and deep layers indicates the unsustainability of afforestation especially for RP40. Structural equation model showed that the negative impact of afforestation on deep SOC through soil water depletion (−0.38) outweighed the direct positive impact of increased aboveground biomass (AGB) (+0.33). The negative impacts of decreased SWC and increased pH on deep SIC was close to the positive impacts of AGB. Afforestation has different effects on SOC and SIC across shallow and deep layers, and its negative effects on deep soil C should be fully integrated into future forest ecosystem restoration and management efforts.

Effect of granite powder on the strength, durability and sustainability of soil treated using steel slag or cement

Granite powder, a byproduct of granite quarrying, enhances the long-term strength of cement-treated soil due to its pozzolanic reactivity. However, its effects on early strength and seawater durability, as well as its influence on slag-treated soils, remain unexplored. We studied cement-treated and slag-treated soil composites with 0% and 30% granite powder, using 8% cement or 30% steel slag per dry soil mass. We performed vane shear and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests at 1, 3, 6, 12hours, and 1, 3, 7, 28, 63, 91, 119 days. After 28 days of air curing, samples endured seawater exposure at 30°C for 0, 28, 63, and 91 days, followed by UCS and XRF calcium composition tests. Seawater samples were also analyzed for calcium and magnesium concentrations using a photometer. Despite similar dry unit weights, slag-treated soil initially exhibited lower strength than cement-treated soil. However, granite powder enabled slag-treated samples to reach comparable strength levels to those of cement-treated soil. Its pozzolanic reactivity facilitated self-repair in samples affected by seawater-induced calcium depletion, while also reducing emissions, resource consumption, and construction costs associated with treated soil materials.

Site Suitability Analysis for Farmlands in Agro-Climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh using Geo-Spatial Techniques

Abstract: The Anantapur region has moderately healthy vegetation, which produces impressive biodiversity, climate variations, and a variety of wildlife and flora. As a result, the southern areashave a lot of room for agricultural growth to support rural economies. The Northern part's potential for agriculture in this region has been limited by several physical obstacles, including ahigh slope and elevation, built-up area, a lack of irrigation infrastructure, dry soil, poor rainfall, and socio-economic problems. Planning the expansion of agricultural output can benefit from researching a location's suitability for a particular purpose. Using a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making technique based on DEM and Landsat 8 satellite data, AHP will be utilised to evaluate site suitability for agricultural production in unused areas. A pairwise comparison matrix will be used to set the weights. It will help to determine whether hilly terrain is suitable for farming using the study's techniques, approaches, and findings.

Mucilage facilitates root water uptake under edaphic stress: first evidence at the plant scale.

Mucilage has been hypothesized to soften the gradients in matric potential at the root-soil interface, hereby facilitating root water uptake in dry soils and maintaining transpiration with a moderate decline in leaf water potential. So far, this hypothesis has been tested only through simplified experiments and numerical simulations. However, the impact of mucilage on the relationship between transpiration rate (E) and leaf water potential (ψleaf) at the plant scale remains speculative. We utilized an automated root pressure chamber to measure the E(ψleaf) relationship in two cowpea genotypes with contrasting mucilage production. We then leveraged a soil-plant hydraulic model to reproduce the experimental observations and inferred the matric potential at the root-soil interface for both genotypes. In wet soil, the relationship between the leaf water potential and transpiration rate (E) was linear for both genotypes. However, as the soil progressively dried, the E(ψleaf) relationship exhibited nonlinearity. Genotype with low mucilage production exhibited nonlinearity earlier during soil drying, i.e. in wetter soil conditions, (soil water content < 0.36cm3 cm-3) compared to Genotype with high mucilage production (soil water content < 0.30cm3 cm-3). The incidence of nonlinearity was concomitant with the decline in matric potential across the rhizosphere. High mucilage production attenuated water potential diminution at the root-soil interface with increased E. This shows, for the first time at the plant scale, that root mucilage softened the gradients in matric potential and maintained transpiration in drying soils. The model simulations indicate that a plausible explanation for this effect is an enhanced hydraulic conductivity of the rhizosphere in genotype with higher mucilage production. Mucilage exudation maintains the hydraulic continuity between soil and roots and decelerates the drop in matric potential near the root surface, hereby postponing the hydraulic limitations to transpiration during soil drying.

Implementation of smart irrigation system

Current global technology significantly impacts agriculture, with automation playing a crucial role by executing procedures without assistance from any individual. This work aims to demonstrate how an individual can set up an affordable automatic irrigation system in a few hours by connecting various electronic components and materials. A sensor-based automated irrigation system has been designed and implemented, providing widespread use and significant advantages. This system aids daily activities by saving time and reducing labor. It makes use of a sensor technology in conjunction with a microcontroller, relay, DC motor, and battery. By measuring the moisture content of the soil and turning on irrigation as necessary, the device functions as an intelligent switch. The motor automatically turns on or off based on soil dryness. Sensor readings are transmitted to a computer for graph generation and analysis, allowing easy monitoring and control via a computer. Green roofs, nurseries, greenhouses, and gardens of all sizes can use this watering system.It conserves time, energy, reduces water wastage, and simplifies irrigation planning for farmers, enhancing their management of crops.

Electric inter-row control of lupin plants does not adversely affect the neighbouring non-target lupin plants

Abstract Inter-row weed control is used in a wide range of crops, traditionally applied via physical cultivation or banded herbicide application. However, these methods may result in crop damage, herbicide resistance development, or off-target environmental impacts. Electric inter-row weed control presents an alternative, though its potential impact on crop yield requires further investigation. One of the modes of action of electric weed control is the continuous electrode-plant contact method, which passes a current through the weed and into the roots. As the current passes into the roots, it can potentially disperse through the soil to neighbouring root systems. Such off-target current dispersion, particularly in moist topsoil with low resistance, poses potential concern for neighbouring crops when electric inter-row weed control is applied. This research evaluated the continuous electrode-plant contact method, using a ZassoTM XPower machine, in comparison with mowing, across three trials conducted in 2022 and 2023. Both treatments were used to remove target lupin plants adjacent to a row of non-target lupin. Electric weed control was applied to plants in dry soil or following a simulated rainfall event. The trials demonstrated that electric weed control and mowing did not reduce density and biomass of neighbouring non-target lupin plants compared to the untreated control. Likewise, pod and seed production, grain size and protein, as well as grain germinability and vigour of the resulting seedlings was not reduced by these weed control tactics. This research used technology that was not fit for purpose in broad scale grain crops but concludes that electric weed control via the continuous electrode-plant contact method or mowing did not result in crop damage. Therefore, it is unlikely that damage will occur using commercial-grade electric weed control or mowing technology designed for large acreage inter-row weed control, thus offering non-chemical weed management options.

Evaluation of the Structure of Dry Soil, Subjected to Dynamic Load in Different Managements

The structural evaluation of agricultural soil is essential for the performance and quality of production. Soils suffer surface consolidation when subjected to agricultural machinery traffic and alter their physical characteristics according to the management to which it is subjected. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the physical indices and surface consolidation of a red oxisol subjected to different loads and types of management. Undeformed soil samples were collected from three areas with different management systems: no-tillage, crop-livestock--forest integrated system (CLFI), and pasture area. Traffic simulations were conducted with application of dynamic loads, using 0 pass, 1 pass, and 2 passes (0, 108, and 216 kpa), evaluating the physical indices of the soil&amp;#39;s natural specific weight (yn), dry apparent specific weight (yd), void index (n), and porosity (e). Subsequently, the samples were subjected to uniaxial compression tests using loads (108, 216, 432, 864, and 1500 Kpa) to verify the surface consolidation. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with a 3x3x5 factorial scheme in sub-subdivided plots. Thus, we verified that the no-tillage management system has a more porous soil due to its characteristics, presenting lower resistance and being better for planting. CLFI was characterized as a management that allowed the soil to be more resistant to the application of loads and, therefore, less porous. Pasture has an intermediate behavior.

Neutralization and CO2 fixation behavior of alkaline recycled soil using column tests with CO2 ventilation

AbstractColumn tests were conducted to elucidate the pH neutralization and CO2 fixation behavior of alkaline recycled soils permeated with CO2. The ventilation period required for complete CO2 fixation (tEOF) was estimated from the test results of each column. The maximum amount of CO2 captured per gram of dry soil ((mCO2)max) was determined based on the inflow and outflow of CO2 for each specimen. The investigation into the effects of soil density, specimen height, CO2 gas concentration, and flow rate on tEOF and (mCO2)max revealed that tEOF increased with higher dry density (ρd) or specimen height (H), as a denser and larger specimen consumed more CO2 gas. Conversely, tEOF decreased with a higher CO2 gas concentration (C) or flow volume (Q) because a low C or Q resulted in an insufficient CO2 gas supply to match the consumption induced by the reaction. Lower C and Q tended to yield higher (mCO2)max, whereas higher ρd and H resulted in higher (mCO2)max. Furthermore, (mCO2)max increased with tEOF, with a slight reduction in pH after neutralization with increased tEOF. This phenomenon was attributed to the longer ventilation period enabling more Ca to react with the CO2 gas and maintain the equilibrium state of the reaction. Finally, the evaluation of the CO2 consumption rate (CSR) for each column specimen revealed that a higher C and Q resulted in a lower CSR, whereas a higher H resulted in a higher CSR. Additionally, a longer tEOF was associated with a higher CSR, although some variation was observed.

Potassium Fertilizer Application Rates for Fertigated Edamame Grown on Low-K Soils

Edamame, a legume consumed fresh as a vegetable, is highly nutritious, particularly protein-rich, and holds significant economic value. However, its cultivation faces challenges, especially on dry land, due to water scarcity and limited nutrient availability, particularly potassium (K). This study, which investigated the impact of potassium fertilization rate on edamame cultivation, underscores the need for further research. The study utilized a single factor, potassium fertilization rate, arranged in a completely randomized block design. Potassium rates consist of 0% X, 50% X, 100% X, 150% X, and 200% X, where X represents the recommended potassium fertilization rate according to the dry soil test device (DSTD) guidelines. Each treatment was replicated five times. Data were analyzed using ANOVA at a 5% significance level, and any significant effects were further examined using orthogonal polynomial and regression analysis. The results indicated that potassium fertilizer rates did not significantly affect edamame height, pod weight per plot, and marketable yield. However, the study identified the optimal potassium fertilizer rate, which was between 83%X and 119%X, equivalent to 83–119 kg.ha⁻¹ of KCl (50–72 kg.ha⁻¹ of K₂O). This range positively increased total branch yield, productive branches, number of flowers, pod weight per plant, number of pods per plant, and plant dry weight, producing a quadratic response pattern. The study recommends further research to optimize potassium fertilizer doses based on DSTD recommendations, particularly at a low K nutrient status, to maximize marketable yields through fertigation.

Salinity and oven-drying effects on the plasticity of a marine soft clay

Considering the extensive use of plasticity-based correlations in geotechnical practice to estimate soil parameters, this paper evaluates the influence of pore fluid salinity and soil drying on the plasticity of Ballina clay, an estuarine soft clay from northern New South Wales (Australia). A comprehensive experimental study, which includes controlled leaching/salinisation paths applied to natural (remoulded) as well as oven-dried clay, prior to the estimation of the Atterberg limits, is presented. Plasticity tests are complemented with chemical analysis of the pore fluid carried out to evaluate the processes involved in the leaching/salinisation mechanisms for remoulded and oven-dried clay. A strong dependency of liquid limit on pore fluid salinity and oven-drying is observed in Ballina clay. Leaching modifies the soil fabric from an initially saline–sodic flocculated towards a normal flocculated arrangement. The experimental results show that changes in soil plasticity upon leaching are largely reversible upon salinisation paths. Oven-drying promotes the stacking of clay minerals (aggregation), which in turn reduces the water absorption capacity of the clay. The consequences of neglecting both salinity and drying effects in practice when adopting well-established relationships between mechanical parameters and soil plasticity are also briefly discussed.

Numerical Modeling of Soil and Structure Behavior for Tunneling in Different Types of Soil

This note studies the correlation between surface and tunnel volume loss in various types of dry soil via finite element method. The effect of small strain stiffness, the buoyancy effect of soil, and tunnel overburden depth are considered in the 2D tunneling model. The results show that both surface volume loss ratio and settlement trough width parameter in the empirical solution can be expressed as a linear equation of tunnel volume loss ratio for 1D overburden shallow tunnels. Furthermore, the surface volume loss ratio can be presented as a non-linear polynomial equation of overburden depth and tunnel volume loss ratio in a 3D space, and this equation holds in different types of soil. The ranges of required fitting parameters and upper and lower bounding surfaces are suggested for various types of soil. Knowledge of this correlation between surface and tunnel volume loss is valuable, as it can be employed in practice for preliminary tunnel design in the absence of tunneling induced maximum ground settlement.

Global influence of soil texture on ecosystem water limitation.

Low soil moisture and high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) cause plant water stress and lead to a variety of drought responses, including a reduction in transpiration and photosynthesis1,2. When soils dry below critical soil moisture thresholds, ecosystems transition from energy to water limitation as stomata close to alleviate water stress3,4. However, the mechanisms behind these thresholds remain poorly defined at the ecosystem scale. Here, by analysing observations of critical soil moisture thresholds globally, we show the prominent role of soil texture in modulating the onset of ecosystem water limitation through the soil hydraulic conductivity curve, whose steepness increases with sand fraction. This clarifies how ecosystem sensitivity to VPD versus soil moisture is shaped by soil texture, with ecosystems in sandy soils being relatively more sensitive to soil drying, whereas ecosystems in clayey soils are relatively more sensitive to VPD. For the same reason, plants in sandy soils have limited potential to adjust to water limitations, which has an impact on how climate change affects terrestrial ecosystems. In summary, although vegetation-atmosphere exchanges are driven by atmospheric conditions and mediated by plant adjustments, their fate is ultimately dependent on the soil.

Enhancing Iron and Zinc Uptake in Spring Wheat Through Commercial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation under Different Soil Phosphorus Addition Levels

Improving the concentrations and bioavailability of micronutrients, especially iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), in crop grains is important to alleviate their deficiencies in humans. Inoculating crops with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can potentially enhance soil nutrient supply and crop yield, but the effectiveness is influenced by soil factors, particularly soil phosphorus (P) availability. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of a commercial AMF product on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and grain concentrations of Zn and Fe under different soil P addition levels (0, 5 and 20 mg P kg-1 dry soil). Results showed that AMF inoculation significantly increased root colonization rate of wheat across all P addition levels. Wheat growth, as evidenced by dry weights of shoot and grain, was significantly enhanced by AMF and high P addition treatments. AMF inoculation did not affect grain Zn concentration, but significantly increased grain Fe concentration compared to the un-inoculated control. As expected, P addition resulted in a significant reduction in grain concentrations of Fe and Zn, primarily due to a growth dilution effect. An integrated analysis using the radar plot concludes that AMF inoculation is most effective in increasing crop yield and grain micronutrient concentrations when soil P levels are low. Importantly, while adequate P supply is crucial for maintaining crop productivity, it may decrease grain micronutrient availability without complementary strategies.

ნიადაგით გამოწვეული ელექტროქიმიური კოროზია ტენიან, ნაკლებ მჟავიან, ნეიტრალურ და ტუტოვან გარემოში

The article analyzes the anodic, transient and cathodic processes of a galvanic cell. Electrochemical corrosion caused by soil in a moist, less acidic, neutral and alkaline environment is discussed. The scheme of corrosion of underground pipelines under various conditions of soil aeration is given. The cases of corrosion process control for various soil corrosion conditions are considered: soil corrosion with prevailing cathodic control; corrosion in loose, dry soils (anodic control); corrosion over long stretches (prevailing ohmic control).

Ecotoxicity of bioinsecticide spinosad to soil organisms: Commercial formulation versus active ingredient

Spintor® (SPIT®) is a commercial formulation of a bioinsecticide with the active ingredient Spinosad (SPIN). Despite the efforts of regulatory agencies, there still is a lack of information regarding short- and long-term exposures to soil-dwellers, as well as effects at environmentally relevant concentrations. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of SPIT® and SPIN, on the oligochaete Eisenia fetida, and the arthropod Folsomia candida. For this, natural soil was spiked with environmentally relevant concentrations (0.00–1.49 mg of the active ingredient·kg−1 of dry soil) to assess avoidance behaviour in E. fetida and reproduction effects on both species. Further, in E. fetida adults exposed for 2- and 28-day biomarkers of oxidative stress, energetic reserves, neurotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated. A significant reduction in juvenile production for F. candida was observed for SPIT® at ≥0.66 mg kg−1 and SPIN at ≥0.13 mg kg−1, and although no effect was observed on E. fetida reproduction, the oligochaeta revealed a tendency to avoid soil spiked with SPIT® at 0.44, 0.66 and 1.49 mg kg−1. The sub-individual responses of E. fetida demonstrate genotoxicity upon exposure to SPIT® and SPIN for 2 days. The 2-day exposures of SPIT® and SPIN seem to induce defence mechanisms, and in general, SPIN exerted higher effects than SPIT® on the oligochaetes. Overall, the pro-oxidant performance and energy metabolism pathways were disrupted in both exposures to SPIT® and SPIN. The results suggest that spinosyns-based products can have an impact on soil arthropods F. candida and oligochaete's health, possibly affecting their essential functions in terrestrial ecosystems.

Drought Stress, Elevated CO2 and Their Combination Differentially Affect Carbon and Nitrogen in Different Organs of Six Spring Wheat Genotypes

This study aimed to analyze the combined impact of CO2 and drought stress at the flowering stage on carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and CN ratios in leaves, stem, and grains of bread wheat. Six diverse bread wheat genotypes, comprised of two commercial checks, two landraces, and two synthetics derivatives, were grown at two levels of CO2, i.e., 400 ppm and 800 ppm, and drought stress was imposed at the flowering stage through progressive soil drying. Stem, leaf, and grain samples were taken at maturity and concentrations of C and N were determined. Our results indicate that the threshold value of fraction of transpirable soil water (CFTSW) at which it diverges towards closure of stomata was different among genotypes and a higher range of values was estimated under elevated CO2. Drought significantly increased C levels in leaves and N levels in grains but decreased N levels in leaves, which increased CN ratios in leaves. In contrast, drought significantly reduced CN ratios in grains. Genotypes differed significantly in N content in grains, where the landrace derivative L2 maintained the highest N content. Moreover, pronounced changes in leaf N and CN ratios were induced by the combination of elevated CO2 and drought stress. Additionally, combined correlation and biplot analyses indicate a strong positive association of grain CN (GCN) with grain number, weight, and grain yield. These effects possibly interact with drought to strongly interfere with the impact of elevated CO2. The differential performance of the tested genotypes shows that selection of appropriate germplasm is essential to maintain agricultural production.

How Does the East Siberian Sea Ice Affect the June Drought Over Northwest China After 2000?

AbstractChanges in Arctic sea ice have exerted remarkably effects on the Eurasian climates, but it is unclear whether Arctic sea ice also contributes to Northwest China's ongoing summer drought. This study investigates the influence of the interannual variability of Arctic sea ice on the June drought in Northwest China from 1979 to 2021. It reveals that the early‐autumn sea ice in the East Siberian Sea is correlated with drought conditions in June in Northwest China, with a more pronounced connection during the period of 2000/2001–2020/2021 (P2) compared to 1979/1980–1999/2000 (P1). Mitigated drought in Northwest China is associated with anomalously high sea ice concentration (SIC) in the East Siberian Sea. Further analysis suggests that the strengthened link may be due to greater SIC variability in the East Siberian Sea during P2 than P1. In P2, positive early‐autumn SIC anomaly is linked to anomalous northeasterly winds, promoting drier soil and widespread cooling in the East European Plain. This dry soil signal may persist into the ensuing spring and early summer, inducing an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over Siberia, which could facilitate the water vapor convergence in Northwest China, thereby enhancing humidity conditions in the region. The insights from this study could offer valuable information for improved prediction of droughts in Northwest China.

Prevalence and Distribution of Rice Root Knot Nematode in Rice Nurseries in Chitwan and Lamjung Districts of Nepal

To determine the natural infection of the rice root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola Golden &amp; Brichfield) in rice nurseries, a survey was carried out in Chitwan and Lamjung in June and July of 2022. Rice nurseries were randomly selected based on geographical location, agro-ecological region, land type, cropping practice, and soil type. Forty rice nurseries were surveyed i.e. twenty from each district and 100 seedlings from each nursery as the sample for the study using the simple random method of sampling were evaluated. Field survey revealed that M. graminicola was widely distributed in most rice growing areas of Chitwan and Lamjung districts. Most of the rice nurseries in Lamjung district were found to be infested with M. graminicola as compared to that of the Chitwan district. Disease severity was reported up to 23.26% in Lamjung and 20.2% in Chitwan district. Additionally, the study showed that dry bed conditions were more likely to be affected by rice root-knot disease than wet bed conditions. The majority of farmers planted seedlings on upland (dry) soil, where second-stage juvenile (J2) populations and rice root-knot disease were more common. Most farmers (87.5%) have limited knowledge about rice root knot nematodes and their control methods. This suggested a significant loss in rice output and a high danger of nematode multiplication. This information will provide knowledge about the prevalence of nematode and enabling rice growers in this region to design and implement an appropriate control strategy for managing M. graminicola.