Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, selenium, sulfur, silica-gel and biochar reduce arsenic uptake in plant biomass and improve nutritional quality in Pisum sativum
Arsenic (As) is a carcinogenic substance. It increased in crop grown in field soil from ground water irrigation. Subsequently As transport into the human body through food chains. The reduction of As transport in root, shoot and grain of pea genotypes is significantly important to protect human health. This research is focused on the biomass growth and alleviation of As accumulation in root, shoot and grain of pea genotypes in high As soil (30mgkg-1) amended with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), biochar (BC) of rice husk and saw dust, selenium (Se), silica- gel (Si), and sulfur (S). Shoot length, root, shoot and pod mass were generally higher in pea crops grown in soil amended with AMF, Se, Si- gel and S. Rice husk and saw dust BC less consistently increased some growth parameters, particularly in genotype BARI Motor 2. However, the BCs more often reduced growth and pod mass. All treatments significantly reduced As concentration in tissues; As in grains was reduced on average 60% by any of the soil amendments. AMF, Se and Si- gel all were found more effective than BC for the reduction of As uptake in pea crops. As in grains was reduced 77% by AMF, 71% by Se and 69% by Si- gel on average. As in root, shoot, and grain was also affected by variety; in control treatments, total As uptake in plants pot-1 of BARI Motor 1 and 3 was found 60 to 70% higher than BARI Motor 2. Comparing the variety and treatment with most As in grains (BARI Motor 1 control, 0.35 mg As kg-1) and least As in grains (BARI motor 1, 2 & 3 with AMF with 0.07 mg As kg-1), the choice of variety and soil amendment could reduce human intake of As through pea by 80%. It is recommended that choice of pea variety and soil amendment with AMF and Se have great potential for improving the nutritional quality of pea grown in As contaminated soil, as well as reducing As transfer to human bodies through food chains in pea crops.