Arsenic uptake and phytotoxicity of T-aman rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in the As-amended soil of Bangladesh

A pot-culture experiment was conducted in open-field conditions with highly cultivated locally transplanted (T) aman rice (Oryza sativa L.) named BR-22 in arsenic (As)-amended soil (0, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0 and 50.0 mg kg−1 As) of Bangladesh to see the effect of As on the growth, yield and metal uptake of rice. Arsenic was applied to soil in the form of sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4). Arsenic affected the plant height, tiller and panicle numbers, grain and straw yield of T-aman rice significantly (P ≤ 0.05). The grain As uptake of T-aman rice was found to increase with increase of As in soil and a high grain As uptake was observed in the treatments of 30–50 mg kg−1 As-containing soil. These levels exceed the food hygiene concentration limit of 1.0 mg kg−1 As. However, the straw As uptake varied significantly (P ≤ 0.05) from a low concentration of As in soil (5 mg kg−1) and the highest uptake was noticed in 20 mg kg−1 As treatment.