Migration and Transformation of Arsenic in Rice and Soil under Different Nitrogen Sources in Polymetallic Sulfide Mining Areas

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer affects the migration and transformation of arsenic (As) in soil and rice. We conducted pot experiments and studied the effects of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 g∙kg−1 N levels of NH4Cl, (NH4)2SO4, and NH4NO3 fertilizers on the As bioavailability in the As-contaminated inter-rhizosphere soil and As accumulation in the rice organs. The results showed that the concentration of bioavailable As in the rice rhizosphere soil was significantly negatively correlated with pH under the 0.4 g∙kg−1 N level of each fertilizer. At the same N level, while the As concentration was maturity stage > tillering stage in rice stems and leaves treated with NH4Cl and (NH4)2SO4, it was the opposite in roots. This suggests that the transfer of As from roots to stems and leaves mainly occurs in the late stage of rice growth under the condition of only NH4+-N fertilizer applying. The As concentration in rice aboveground organ (grains and stems–leaves) decreased with the increasing N application under the same N fertilizer treatment condition during the mature stage. In addition, the As concentration in rice grains treated with (NH4)2SO4 was the lowest. This result indicated that SO42− and NH4+-N had a significant synergistic inhibition on the As accumulation in rice grains. It was concluded that appropriate (NH4)2SO4 levels for As-contaminated paddy soils with high sulfur (S) contents would obtain rice grains with inorganic As concentrations below 0.2 mg·kg−1.