The interrelationships between the performance of the rice crop and certain aspects of its natural or man-modified environment are reviewed. Biological aspects pertaining to specific cv. characteristics and physiology, and the fertility of the surface soil as determined by fertilizers, are not considered in detail. A chapter on the geography of rice deals with the origin and diffusion of cultivated rice, rice in the landscape, and the major landforms of lowland rice-growing areas. There are further chapters on the hydrology of rice lands, the classification of rice soils, soil-forming processes in aquatic rice lands, soil and land properties that affect the growth of rice, and elements for evaluation of land for rice growing. A short glossary, including terms newly proposed in the book, is provided.ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT:The origins of cultivated rice, and the physical geography and hydrology of present rice growing regions are described. The classification of rice-growing soils and changes brought about in them during flooded rice cultivation, together with soil physical and chemical properties affecting the growth of rice are discussed. Finally the attributes of land useful in its evaluation for rice growing are defined.