Foliar Application of Zn-EDTA at Early Filling Stage to Increase Grain Zn and Fe, and Reduce Grain Cd, Pb and Grain Yield in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The accumulation of Cd and Pb in rice grains poses a potential threat to human health, which is a subject of increasing concern across the globe. We examined the effect that foliar spraying of Zn-ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Zn-EDTA) (0.3% and 0.5% w/v) during the early-grain filling stage has on rice grain yield and Cd, Pb, Zn and Fe contents in rice tissues via a field experiment. The grain yield significantly decreased with the foliar application of 0.5% Zn-EDTA. In rice grain, foliar spraying of 0.5% Zn-EDTA significantly decreased the Cd and Pb contents, but increased the Zn and Fe contents. The main reasons for the decrease in the Cd and Pb content in grain were the inhibition of Cd and Pb by roots and the increased Fe content in grain via Zn-EDTA application. The foliar spraying of Zn-EDTA decreased the grain yield and Cd and Pb contents, while increased the Zn and Fe contents in grains.

Phytoavailability of Cd and Pb in crop straw biochar-amended soil is related to the heavy metal content of both biochar and soil.

Crop straw biochar incorporation may be a sustainable method of amending soil, but feedstock-related Cd and Pb content is a major concern. We investigated the effects of heavy metal-rich (RC) and -free biochar (FC) on the phytoavailability of Cd and Pb in two acidic metalliferous soils. Biochar significantly increased soil pH and improved plant growth. Pb in soil and plant tissues significantly decreased after biochar application, and a similar pattern was observed for Cd after FC application. RC significantly increased NH4NO3-extractable Cd in both lightly contaminated (YBS) and heavily contaminated soils (RS). The Cd content of plants grown on YBS increased, whereas it decreased on RS. The Cd and Pb input-output balance suggested that RC application to YBS might induce a soil Cd accumulation risk. Therefore, identifying heavy metal contamination in biochar is crucial before it is used as a soil amendment.

[Impacts of long-term different fertilization managements on soil acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen fractions in double-cropping rice field]. / é•¿æœŸä¸åŒæ–½è‚¥æ¨¡å¼å¯¹åŒå­£ç¨»ç”°åœŸå£¤é ¸è§£æœ‰æœºæ°®ç»„åˆ†çš„å½±å“.

To clarify the impacts of long-term different fertilization modes on the soil acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen and its components in the double-cropping rice field of southern China, a long-term (36-year) location field experiment was used as a platform to systematically analyze the variations of soil acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen and its components (amino acid nitrogen, amino sugar nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, unidentified hydrolysable nitrogen) at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers under four fertilization treatments, including chemical fertilizer alone (CF), rice straw and chemical fertilizer (RF), 30% organic manure and 70% chemical fertilizer (OM), and control (CK). The relationships of soil acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen content and soil total nitrogen, soil organic carbon content were also analyzed. The results showed that compared with CK, OM and RF treatments significantly increased the contents of total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and organic carbon at both soil layers. The contents of soil acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm layers of OM, RF and CF treatments were 10.7%-42.6% and 12.2% -51.5% higher than that of CK, respectively. Compared with CF and CK treatments, OM and RF treatments significantly increased the contents of amino acid nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, unidentified hydrolysable nitrogen and amino sugar nitrogen contents atboth soil layers. The soil acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen and non-hydrolysable nitrogen contents at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm paddy soils under different fertilization treatments decreased in an order of OM>RF>CF>CK. The contents of soil amino acid nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, amino sugar nitrogen and non-hydrolysable nitrogen at 0-10 cm soil layer of each fertilization treatment were higher than those at 10-20 cm soil layer. In addition, the contents of soil acid hydrolyzed organic nitrogen were positively correated with the contents of soil total nitrogen and soil organic carbon. In conclusion, RF and OM treatments were beneficial to increase organic nitrogen content at 0-10 and 10-20 cm soil layers of double cropping paddy fields, with postive consequences on nitrogen supply capacity and soil fertility.

[Effects of different coated slow-release calcium peroxide on microbial characteristics of gleyed paddy soil]. / 不同缓释过氧化钙对潜育环境下水稻土微生物特性的影响.

To explore the effects of different coated slow-release calcium peroxide on soil microbial characteristics in gleyed paddy field, we set seven treatments by simulation test in a greenhouse, including CK (none calcium peroxide), calcium peroxide powder, calcium peroxide particle and other four coated slow-release calcium peroxide treatments. Samples were collected in same tillering stage of early season rice. The results showed that all the applications of calcium peroxide could improve the concentrations of active soil organic carbon, soil available nutrients, soil microbial biomass, culturable microorganism population, as well as soil enzyme activity. The coated slow-release calcium peroxide had stronger effects than calcium peroxide particles and calcium peroxide powder. The calcium peroxide coated by ethyl cellulose was the most effective, which enhanced soil active organic carbon, soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus by 19.4%, 11.4%, 121.5% and 127.2%, soil alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen and available phosphorus by 4.0% and 45.5%, soil culturable bacteria and culturable microorganism population by 137.3% and 113.7%, fungi and actinomyces number were increased by 33.6% and 44.7%. The enzyme activities of invertase, phosphatase, urease as well as catalase were increased by 92.4%, 91.8%, 112.5% and 17.1%, respectively. The results could provide reference for improving gleyed paddy field with coated calcium peroxide.

Effectiveness of simultaneous foliar application of Zn and Mn or P to reduce Cd concentration in rice grains: a field study.

Excess cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils can be taken up by rice plants and concentrated in the grain, presenting a human health risk. In this study, we field tested the effects of three foliar treatments (zinc (Zn) alone, or combined with manganese (ZnMn) or phosphorus (ZnP)) on the Cd concentration and grain yield of six rice cultivars (C Liangyou 7, Fengyuanyou 272, Xiangwanxian 12, Tianyouhuazhan, Xiangwanxian 13, and Jinyou 284) at the grain filling stage. Our results showed that rice yield and Cd, Zn, Mn, P, and K concentrations were significantly different among the cultivars (p < 0.05); for example, Jinyou 284 recorded lower Cd levels than any other cultivar. Application of Zn, ZnMn, and ZnP had no significant effect on rice yield and Mn, P, and K concentrations for all cultivars. Compared with the control, Cd concentrations after treatment with Zn, ZnMn, and ZnP decreased by 19.03-32.55%, 36.63-55.78% (p < 0.05), and 25.72-49.10%, respectively, while Zn concentrations increased by 11.02-29.38%, 10.63-32.67%, and 11.97-36.82%, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between Cd and Zn concentrations (p < 0.01). All three treatments increased Zn and reduced Cd concentration in rice grains, though ZnMn was most effective. Therefore, cultivar selection and Zn fertilizer application are effective strategies to minimize Cd concentration in rice grains. However, the lowest result still exceeded the Chinese Cd safety limit (0.2 mg Cd kg-1) by a factor of 2.6, demonstrating that additional effective measures should be simultaneously used to further reduce the accumulation of Cd in rice grains.

Foliar application of Zn can reduce Cd concentrations in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under field conditions.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in rice and its transfer to food chain are cause of global concern. Application of zinc (Zn) can reduce Cd uptake by plants, as both these metals are generally antagonistic in soil-plant systems. In a field experiment on Cd-contaminated acid soil, we investigated the effectiveness of foliar application of Zn in minimizing Cd accumulation and its effect on the content of mineral nutrient elements in rice. The treatment was done at an early grain filling stag using 0.3 and 0.5% w/v ZnSO4·7H2O solution. The spray did not affect the grain yield of rice but decreased the Cd concentration in the root, straw, husk, and brown rice to some extent and increased the Zn concentration. Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 resulted in maximum Zn concentration and minimum Cd concentration in brown rice. However, the concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, and Mn in brown rice were not affected. The correlation between Cd and Zn concentrations in brown rice, husk, and root was significantly negative, and that between Cd and Mn concentrations in brown rice was significantly positive. The inhibition of Cd uptake resulted in a decrease in its concentration in brown rice after the treatments. Thus, the foliar application of a suitable concentration of Zn at the early grain filling stage could effectively minimize the Cd concentration while enhancing the Zn concentration in brown rice on Cd-contaminated acid soil.

Speciation and phytoavailability of cadmium in soil treated with cadmium-contaminated rice straw.

When grown on Cd-contaminated soil, rice typically accumulates considerable Cd in straw, and which may return to the soil after harvest. This work was undertaken to assess the pollution risk of Cd associated to the Cd-contaminated rice straw after incorporating into an uncontaminated soil. With the Cd-contaminated rice straw added at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 % (w/w), an incubation experiment (28 days) with non-planting and a followed pot experiment sequent with two planting (rice and Chinese cabbage, transplanted after 28-day incubation) were carried out to investigate the changes of soil Cd speciation and phytoavailability. The results indicated that the Cd-contaminated rice straw addition significantly increased soil pH and dissolved organic carbon during the 28-day incubation. For the high availability of Cd in contaminated rice straw, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Cd significantly increased, and the percentages of acetic acid extractable and reducible Cd in soil significantly enhanced after the addition of Cd-contaminated rice straw. However, the Cd-contaminated rice straw addition inhibited the rice growth and induced the decrease of Cd in rice grain and straw by 12.8 to 70.2 % and 39.3 to 57.3 %, respectively, whereas the Cd contents increased by 13.9 to 84.1 % in Chinese cabbage that planted after rice harvest. In conclusion, Cd associated with Cd-contaminated rice straw was highly available after incorporating into the soil, and thus the Cd pollution risk via the Cd-contaminated rice straw incorporation should be evaluated in the Cd-contaminated paddy region.