Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, biochar, selenium, silica gel, and sulfur on arsenic uptake and biomass growth in Pisum sativum L.

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is carcinogenic and highly toxic to plants. Crops accumulate As when grown in field soils irrigated with As-contaminated groundwater. The accumulation of As in roots, shoots, and grains of pea varieties can negatively affect human health via the food chain. This research is focused on the biomass growth and alleviation of As accumulation in roots, shoots, and grains of pea varieties in high As soil amended with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), biochar (BC), selenium (Se), silica gel (Si-gel), and sulfur (S). Root, shoot, and grain masses were found higher in pea grown in As soil amended with AMF, Se, Si-gel, and S. Amendments with rice husk and sawdust BC was found less effective to increase growth parameters in Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Motor 2. Arsenic in grains was reduced by 77%, 71%, and 69% by AMF, Se, and Si-gel, respectively. It is recommended that soil amendments with AMF, S, and Se have great potential for improving biomass production of pea grown in As-contaminated soil, as well as reducing As transfer to humans through the food chains.

Keywords

• Arsenic
• Pea
• Food chain
• AMF
• Food safety
• Metal