Burkholderia pseudomallei is a soil-dwelling bacterium and the cause of 
melioidosis, which kills an estimated 89,000 people per year worldwide. 
Agricultural workers are at high risk of infection due to repeated exposure to 
the bacterium. Little is known about the soil physicochemical properties 
associated with the presence or absence of the organism. Here, we evaluated the 
soil physicochemical properties and presence of B. pseudomallei in 6,100 soil 
samples collected from 61 rice fields in Thailand. The presence of B. 
pseudomallei was negatively associated with the proportion of clay, proportion 
of moisture, level of salinity, percentage of organic matter, presence of 
cadmium, and nutrient levels (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and 
iron). The presence of B. pseudomallei was not associated with the level of soil 
acidity (P = 0.54). In a multivariable logistic regression model, the presence 
of B. pseudomallei was negatively associated with the percentage of organic 
matter (odds ratio [OR], 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01 to 0.47; P = 
0.007), level of salinity (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.74; P = 0.03), and 
percentage of soil moisture (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.00; P = 0.05). Our 
study suggests that B. pseudomallei thrives in rice fields that are nutrient 
depleted. Some agricultural practices result in a decline in soil nutrients, 
which may impact the presence and amount of B. pseudomallei bacteria in affected 
areas.
IMPORTANCE: Burkholderia pseudomallei is an environmental Gram-negative bacillus 
and the cause of melioidosis. Humans acquire the disease following skin 
inoculation, inhalation, or ingestion of the bacterium in the environment. The 
presence of B. pseudomallei in soil defines geographic regions where humans and 
livestock are at risk of melioidosis, yet little is known about the soil 
properties associated with the presence of the organism. We evaluated the soil 
properties and presence of B. pseudomallei in 61 rice fields in East, Central, 
and Northeast Thailand. We demonstrated that the organism was more commonly 
found in soils with lower levels of organic matter and nutrients, including 
phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. We also demonstrated that 
crop residue burning after harvest, which can reduce soil nutrients, was not 
uncommon. Some agricultural practices result in a decline in soil nutrients, 
which may impact the presence and amount of B. pseudomallei bacteria in affected 
areas.