Effect of kaolin on arsenic accumulation in rice plants (Oryza Sativa L.) grown in arsenic contaminated soils

Abstract

The As accumulation in part of roots, shoots, husks and grains of rice plants was significantly decreased with the increasing dosage of kaolin addition from 0.5% to 10% w/w. Kaolin addition could reduce As accumulation in rice plants, which mainly could be attributed to the formation of stable crystalline Al oxides bound As that decreased the available As in soil with decreased As accumulation in rice plants. The pH values of the soils did not change significantly when amended with kaolin. The pH values of the soils was neural that proper to adsorb of arsenic with Al2O3. Arsenic tends to adsorb with Al2O3at acid neutral pH and with desorbing at alkaline pH. The dry weight of rice plant was significantly increased with the increasing dosage of kaolin addition from 2.5% to 10% w/w. The highest dry weight of rice plants was 6.67 g/pot achieved at kaolin addition of 10% w/w with about 13% increasing over the control, which was probably attributed to the highest As concentration formation with kaolin at this dosage. The results of this study indicated that kaolin has the potential to reduce As accumulation in rice plants and enhance the dry weight of rice plants.