Definition: hydromorphic soil

Refers to soil that is regularly saturated with water. Soils suffering from hydromorphism are generally predominantly loamy. Their structure is often heavy and compact and can lead to root asphyxia in crops and the death or slowing down of hypogeous or infracryptogamic microbial life. In addition, this situation can lead to the formation of toxic substances through oxidation-reduction reactions, such as Al3+ ions, particularly in rice fields, where the soil is often waterlogged. This excess of Al3+ ions can cause stress to the plant, leading to a manganese deficiency. These types of soils are also characterised by the strong odours they give off, particularly in marshy areas, due to the formation of methane.

Hydromorphy also alters the physical properties of the soil and slows down its warming in spring. The resulting root asphyxia also prevents nodules and the plant/rhizobium symbiosis from establishing themselves. This symbiosis is very important in agriculture for the natural supply and enrichment of nitrogen in the soil, as nitrification is also slowed down or completely blocked because the bacteria responsible for it no longer have oxygen.

Solutions for dealing with soil waterlogging are:

* drainage

* percolation

* evaporation