Effect of different amendments on rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth, yield, nutrient uptake and grain quality in Ni-contaminated soil.
Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is one of the main staple food crops which is inherently low in micronutrients, especially iron (Fe), and can lead to severe Fe deficiency in populations having higher consumption of rice. Soils polluted with nickel (Ni) can cause toxicity to rice and decreased Fe uptake by rice plants. We investigated the potential role of biochar (BC) and gravel sludge (GS), alone and in combination, for in situ immobilization of Ni in an industrially Ni-contaminated soil at original and sulfur-amended altered soil pH. Our further aim was to increase Fe bioavailability to rice plants by the exogenous application of ferrous sulfate to the Ni-immobilized soil. Application of the mixture of both amendments reduced grain Ni concentration, phytate, Phytate/Fe, Phyt/Zn molar ratios, and soil DTPA-extractable Ni. In addition, the amendment mixture increased 70 % Fe and 229 % ferritin concentrations in rice grains grown in the soil at original pH. The Fe and ferritin concentrations in S-treated soil was increased up to 113 and 383 % relative to control respectively. This enhanced Fe concentration and corresponding ferritin in rice grains can be attributed to Ni/Fe antagonism where Ni has been immobilized by GS and BC mixture. This proposed technique can be used to enhance growth, yield, and Fe biofortification in rice by reducing soil pH while in parallel in situ immobilizing Ni in polluted soil.
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.
Pia Muhammad Adnan
PM
Ramzani
Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Waqas-Ud-Din
WU
Khan
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan. iqbal.farhad@gmx.at.
Muhammad
M
Iqbal
Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan.
Salma
S
Kausar
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
Shafaqat
S
Ali
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
Muhammad
M
Rizwan
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
Zaheer Abbas
ZA
Virk
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002606:Charcoal; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D007501:Iron; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013455:Sulfur
D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D013455:Sulfur; D009532:Nickel; D007501:Iron
Antagonism; Biofortification; Ferritin; Ferrous sulfate; In-situ immobilization; Phytotoxicity; Rice