Reviews of soft soil phenomena in rice cultivation at MADA, Kedah, Malaysia: Charactization and approaches

• Published in: Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C 2023-12, Vol.132, p.103492, Article 103492
• Main Authors: Md Isa, Mohamed Fauzi, Hussein, Azimah, Mohd Nazer, Nor Shahidah, Ahmad, Mohd Taufik, Khadzir, Mohd Khusairy, Omar, Mohd Fakhrul Zaman, Sharu, Eddy Herman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cone index; Paddy field; Sinkage; Soft soil; Trafficability
• ISSN: 1474-7065; 1873-5193
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2023.103492

Soft soil is a problem that has been faced by the farmers for a long time and often occurs specifically in paddy field cultivation. Almost 8000 ha of paddy fields were affected by this issue in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA). Data from MADA showed that the problems keep growing and that this situation is very worrying because it can impact paddy production. A good paddy field that can be worked with machinery should have a soil bearing capacity of more than 3.0 kg/cm2 to allow the machine to move smoothly and economically. The trafficability of machinery was particularly disturbed during the soil preparation and rice harvesting process. This phenomenon occurs when the soil in the paddy field is prolonged in wet conditions, coupled with unpredictable weather conditions, making the drying period shorter. The soil has always been immersed in water, has the potential to become soft and reduce the soil strength of soil bearing capacity itself, and will become a deep sinkage. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of the phenomenon of soft soil that occurred, especially in MADA, which is to identify some of the causes and appropriate methods to overcome this problem. Based on studies, observations, and a series of visits, several causes have been identified, and the appropriate method to solve this problem has been discovered. Approaches to be carried out included using low-contact pressure machinery, improving existing drainage systems, making subsurface drainage, soil replacement as physical treatment, and alternative materials as chemical treatment. •An overview situation of soft soil that occurred in rice cultivation in MUDA area, Malaysia.•Reduce the local paddy yield production, also decrease the farmer's income.•Approaches included using machinery, drainage infrasturcture physical and chemical treatment.•Covered the probability future research.