Effect of organic manure on Cd and As accumulation in brown rice and grain yield in Cd-As-contaminated paddy fields

Large areas of paddy fields in mining areas in south China have been contaminated by mixed Cd and As. To test the possibility of using organic manure (OM) as a method of reducing Cd and As accumulation in brown rice and increase the grain yield in such paddy fields, two rice cultivars [Jianyou G2 (JY) and Fengyousimiao (FY)] and three amounts of OM (0, 0.5, 1.5 kg/m2) were examined in three Cd-As-contaminated paddy fields (Fogang, Dabaoshan, Fankou) in Guangdong Province. The results show that the application of OM can effectively increase the grain yield and reduce Cd. However, the As concentration was found to increase in brown rice, especially when high levels of OM were used. The addition of OM increased the soil pH and organic matter content in the soils and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in plant tissues. Our results suggest that OM can be used as an amendment to effectively decrease Cd accumulation in brown rice in Cd-contaminated paddy fields. However, it is necessary to consider the negative effects of OM amendments when adding OM to As-contaminated paddy fields.