Cost-effective enhanced iron bioavailability in rice grain grown on calcareous soil by sulfur mediation and its effect on heavy metals mineralization.
Calcareous soil, high pH, and low organic matter are the major factors that limit iron (Fe) availability to rice crop. The present study was planned with the aim to biofortified rice grain with Fe, by integrated use of chemical and organic amendments in pH-manipulated calcareous soil. The soil pH was reduced (pHL2) by using elemental sulfur (S) at the rate of 0.25 % (w/w). The organic amendments, biochar (BC) and poultry manure (PM) [1 % (w/w)], along with ferrous sulfate at the rate of 7.5 mg kg-1soil were used. The incorporation of Fe with BC in soil at pHL2significantly improved plant biomass, photosynthetic rate, and paddy yield up to 99, 97, and 36 %, respectively, compared to control. A significant increase in grain Fe (190 %), protein (58 %), and ferritin (400 %) contents was observed while anti-nutrients, i.e., polyphenols (37 %) and phytate (21 %) were significantly decreased by the addition of Fe and BC in soil at pHL2relative to control. Among the organic amendments, PM significantly increased Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr concentrations in rice grain relative to control but their concentration values were below as compared to the toxic limits of hazard quotients and hazard index (HQ and HI). Hence, this study implies that Fe applied with BC in the soil at pHL2can be considered as an effective strategy to augment Fe bioavailability and to reduce non-essential heavy metal accumulation in rice grain.
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.|Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan.
Pia Muhammad Adnan
PM
Ramzani
Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.
Muhammad
M
Khalid
Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan.
Shazia
S
Anjum
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.
Shafaqat
S
Ali
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
Fakhir
F
Hannan
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan. iqbal.farhad@gmx.at.
Muhammad
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6186-0640
M
Iqbal
D001682:Biological Availability; D018533:Biomass; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000378:metabolism*; D002606:Charcoal; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008372:Manure; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism
D008372:Manure; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
Fe bioavailability; Ferritin; Heavy metals; Phytate; Rice grain; Sulfur