Influence of Soil Arsenic Levels on Biomass Production and Relationship the Concentration of Arsenic between Rice Straw and Grain

Abstract

Arsenic (As) contamination is widespread in Bangladesh. It can cause health hazards depending on consumption of foods grown on As contaminated soil. Two pot experiments were conducted at net house, Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur to study the effect of As on above ground biomass of different rice genotypes and to determine the relationship of As concentration between rice grains and straw. Sixteen rice genotypes were grown in pots soils having 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg As both in winter and wet seasons. Soil As levels reduced above ground biomass of rice by 8-65%. Above ground biomass reduction was the least in BRRI dhan47 with variable soil As levels. Total As concentrations in straw and grains increased with increasing soil As levels. Moreover, the concentration of As in rice grain was also increased with greater As concentration in straw. Grain to straw ratio of As concentration was lower at higher As concentration in straw. It is indicated that reduced movement of As from rice straw to grain take place when straw As concentration was high.