In Section 4, the authors state:
“The soil pH ranged from 7.13 to 8.33, indicating a generally neutral to slightly alkaline pH across the samples… Sample 3 had the highest nitrogen content at 103 mg/kg, which could support strong vegetative development.”
They further assert:
“Rice plants typically thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5–7.0), but the observed pH values are within acceptable limits for rice cultivation.”
And conclude:
“Samples with pH values above 8… indicate a risk of reduced absorption of nutrients, especially phosphorus…”
While this last sentence acknowledges a potential issue, the overall tone suggests that such high pH is still “acceptable” , which contradicts well-established agronomic science and their own data.
In fact, rice (Oryza sativa) does NOT grow optimally in alkaline soils (pH > 7.5).