Potential for the alleviation of arsenic toxicity in paddy rice using amorphous iron-(hydr)oxide amendments

Abstract

A pot culture experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of amorphous iron-(hydr)oxide (Am-FeOH) amendments on arsenic (As) availability and its uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. BR28) irrigated with As-contaminated water. A rhizobag system was established using 3.5 L plastic pots, each containing one central compartment for plant growth, a middle compartment and an outside compartment. Three levels of laboratory-synthesized Am-FeOH (0, 0.1 and 0.5% w/w) were used to amend samples of the As-free sandy loam paddy soil placed into each compartment of the rhizobag system. The soils were submerged with a solution containing 5 mg L^?1 As(V). Two-week-old rice seedlings were planted in the central compartments and cultured for 9 weeks under greenhouse conditions. The addition of 0.1% Am-FeOH to the soil irrigated with As-contaminated water improved plant growth, reduced the As concentration in the plants and enhanced Fe-plaque formation on the root surfaces. Analysis of soil solution samples collected during the experiment revealed higher pH levels and lower redox potentials in the soils amended with Am-FeOH at the onset of soil submergence, but later the soil solution collected from the 0.1% Am-FeOH treatment was slightly acidic and more oxidized than the solution from the 0% treatment. This indicated active functioning of the roots in the soil treated with 0.1% Am-FeOH. The concentrations of As(III) in the soil solution collected from the central compartment were significantly reduced by the Am-FeOH amendments, whereas in the soil treated with 0% Fe, As(III) accumulated in the rhizosphere, particularly during the late-cultivation period. The improvement in plant growth and reduction in As uptake by plants growing in the Am-FeOH treated soil could be attributed to the reduction of available As in the soil solution, mainly as a result of the binding of As to the Fe-plaque on the root surfaces.     

Arsenic phytotoxicity and accumulation in rice seedlings grown in arsenic‐contaminated soils as influenced by the characteristics of organic matter amendments and soils

Organic matter (OM) application into soils is a common agricultural practice. Previous studies have shown that in arsenic (As)‐contaminated paddy soils, OM has the potential to alter the behavior of As and affects the growth and As accumulation of rice plants. In this study, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the differences in the amounts of As released into soil solutions, its toxicity, and accumulation in rice seedlings caused by application of three different OM amendments [soybean meal (SB), sugarcane dreg compost (SC), and cattle‐dung compost (CD)]. These OM amendments were each applied to three As‐contaminated soils, Guandu (Gd), Pinchen (Pc), and Chengchung (Cf), which have different characteristics. The results indicate that after addition of two easily decomposable OMs (SB and SC), the As toxicity and concentrations increased in rice plants, especially in As‐spiked Cf soils which had low As retention capacity. This was the result of elevated As concentration in soil solutions due to a decrease in soil redox potential and competition between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and As for sorption sites, as well as the formation of As–DOC complexes. However, there were no significant effects on plant growth and As accumulation in rice seedlings after treatments with CD (not easily decomposable OM). Another important finding was that the amount of iron plaque on the surface of rice roots increased with OM amendments in the Gd soils rich in iron oxides and hydroxides, thus reducing the As uptake by rice plants. These results suggest that the characteristics of OM and soils should be considered when OM amendments are applied to As‐contaminated soils.     

Larger bioavailability of soil phosphorus for irrigated rice compared with rainfed rice in Madagascar: results from a soil and plant survey

Irrigated rice is less prone generally to phosphorus (P) deficiency than rainfed rice because redox reactions release P upon soil flooding. It is not known whether that is also true in highly weathered soils of Madagascar where the combination of high soil Fe and low P input may impede significant release of P. Soils and flag leaf samples were collected in 2010 in 38 irrigated rice and 46 rainfed rice fields belonging to private farmers. A critical flag leaf P content was derived from a P‐dosed pot trial study with three soils, and the results suggested 2.4 g P/kg as the critical value. Average flag leaf P was significantly larger in irrigated than in rainfed rice (2.2 compared with 1.7 g P/kg), and flag leaf P was below the critical value in 76% of irrigated rice fields while this fraction was 100% in rainfed rice. Nitrogen and K deficiencies were less prevalent. Flag leaf P increased with increasing soil pH and soil pH explained partially differences in leaf P between irrigated and rainfed rice. Flag leaf P was unrelated to soil organic matter, but increased with oxalate‐extractable soil P (P_o). Multiple regression analysis revealed greater leaf P at equal soil P_o and equal pH in irrigated compared with rainfed rice. Grain yield estimates (1‐m² squares) increased with flag leaf P but not with leaf N and K. In a regression model, about 42 % of the yield variance was explained with soil P_o and a rice‐growing system. The survey suggests that P is the main limiting nutrient for rice, and that soil P bioavailability is larger for irrigated than for rainfed rice in weathered soils of Madagascar.     

两种不同土壤对水稻镉吸收及其动态积累特征的影响

  目的  探究水稻在不同土壤上的镉吸收转运动态特征。  方法  选择我国轻中度镉超标水稻土红砂泥（普通铁聚水耕人为土）和油泥土（普通铁渗水耕人为土）,采用盆栽试验种植水稻,分别在水稻幼苗期、分蘖中期、孕穗中期和成熟期分析不同器官镉累积的动态特征。  结果  水稻种植前油泥土CaCl₂提取态镉浓度（0.02 mg kg?1）比红砂泥（0.15 mg kg?1）低86.7%,导致苗期至分蘖中期油泥土水稻植株体内镉的平均累积速率（0.09 μg plant?1 d?1）比红砂泥（0.32 μg plant?1 d?1）低71.9% ,但分蘖中期至孕穗中期油泥土水稻植株体内镉平均累积速率（0.038 μg plant?1 d?1）比红砂泥(0.073 μg plant?1 d?1)低47.9%,表明分蘖中期之前是土壤类型影响水稻植株体内镉积累的关键期。到了成熟期,由于红砂泥上水稻植株体内镉向糙米的分配比率（11.0%）低于油泥土（16.6%）,加之两种土壤上成熟期水稻植株体内镉累积量均下降,且红砂泥上水稻植株体内镉累积量下降率（28.9%）高于油泥土（18.2%）。油泥土水稻糙米镉累积量比红砂泥低44.4%。  结论  土壤差异除了通过影响土壤有效态镉浓度而影响水稻对镉的吸收外,也通过影响水稻植株体内镉的转运过程,进一步影响糙米镉含量。     

Organic amendments decomposability influences microbial activity in saline soils

Organic amendments with contrasting biochemical properties were investigated by conducting an incubation experiment in soils irrigated with different levels of saline water. Soil samples were taken from a long-term experimental field plots irrigated with normal water and saline water having electrical conductivity (EC) 6 and 12 dS m^?1, respectively. Finely ground biochar, rice straw (RS), farm yard manure (FYM) and glucose were added at two rates (1% and 2.5% carbon basis) and incubated for 8 weeks at 25°C. Cumulative respiration (CR), microbial biomass carbon and available nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) were negatively correlated with EC, irrespective of the source and amount of added carbon (C). Compared with non-saline soil, at EC 12, relative decrease in CR was lowest with glucose (21.0%) followed by RS (32.0%), FYM (46.0%) and biochar (55.0%). Dissolved organic carbon was positively correlated with salinity and its concentration was higher in treatments with higher rate of C addition (2.5% C). This study showed decomposability of organic amendments and their rate of addition determines microbial activity in saline soils. Further, lower nitrogen (N) release from amendments under saline conditions limits microbial ability to utilize available C for satisfying their energy needs.     

In-Situ Immobilization of Cadmium and Lead by Different Amendments in Two Contaminated Soils

Different soil amendments, including 1% zeolite, 1% bentonite,5% Penghu soil (PHS), 5% Penghu soil + 1% manganese oxide (PHS + MO), 1% MO, and 1.5% silicate slag (SS), were used to immobilize Cd and Pb in two contaminated soils evaluated by single and sequential extractions and by uptake of Chinese cabbage (Brassica Chinensis L.). Results indicated that the PHS and MO significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the 0.1 M HCl extractable Cd and Pb in the two contaminated soils. Allamendment treatments did not change the organic and residual amounts of Cd and Pb in soils A and B, but the PHS andPHS + MOtreatments significantly reduced the exchangeable amounts of Cdand Pb in the two soils as measured by sequential extraction. Thecombination of PHS and MO amendments was associated with ahigh pH value and negative soil surface charge showed the best immobilizing efficiency of Cd and Pb in this study. All soil amendments investigated did not increase the dry matter weight of the plant, and most of them decreased the uptake of Cd and Pb, especially for the PHS and MO. The PHS and MO treatments reduced the extractability of Cd and Pb in two soils and theiruptake by the plant, but only the Pb content in Chinese cabbagefrom the amended soils was less than the background levels of heavy metals in leaf vegetables of Taiwan.     

砷污染土壤中接种丛枝菌根真菌和蚯蚓对土壤线虫群落和植物砷吸收的影响

The influences of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (MF, Acaulospora spp. and Glomus spp.), rice straw and earthworms (RE, Eisenia foetida) on nematode communities and arsenic (As) uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) in As-contaminated soils were examined in a field experiment conducted in Wujiang, Jiangsu Province, China. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial with the factors of MF (inoculated or uninoculated) and RE (added or not added). The results demonstrated that MF inoculation led to significantly higher root colonization of MF and root dry weight. Plants inoculated with both MF and RE had the highest As concentrations in root. The number of total nematodes increased with MF inoculation when RE was absent, and decreased with RE addition when MF was inoculated. The improved abundance of nematodes with the MF treatment implied that the tested MF acted as food sources for fungivores. The abundances of omnivores-predators and plant parasites were reduced by earthworm activity. Twenty-seven genera of nematodes were identified, with Filenchus dominant in all treatments. Trophic diversity (TD), Shannon-Weaver diversity (H′), Simpson dominance index (λ), and species richness (SR) indicated higher species diversity, more proportionate species composition, evenly distributed species, and more food sources in the MF, RE, and their interaction treatments. Maturity index (MI) showed a moderately disturbed environment due to As pollution. Besides enhancing plant uptake of contaminants, MF and RE amendments could also improve soil health by restoring the structure of soil communities, as reflected by more stable nematode community structure.     

Changes in chemical properties of organic matter with intensified rice cropping in tropical lowland soil

Rice systems in Asia have intensified rapidly in the past 30 years, and significant areas of irrigated lowland rice are now supporting two or three rice crops per year. Our objective was to compare the chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) from four fields with different histories of rice cropping intensity and soil submergence: (i) a single-crop rainfed, dryland rice system without soil submergence, (ii) an irrigated rice and soybean rotation, and irrigated (iii) double- or (iv) triple-crop rice systems in which soil remains submerged during much of the year. In all four soils, extracted mobile humic acid (MHA) and calcium humate (CaHA) fractions were of modern age by ¹⁴C-dating, and represented about 20% of total N and organic C. The MHA was enriched in N and hydrolysable amino acids (AA) compared with CaHA in all soils. With increased frequency of irrigated rice cropping, however, there was a large increase in phenolic content of SOM. We speculate that slower lignin decomposition caused by deficiency of O₂ in submerged soil leads to incorporation of phenolic moieties into young SOM fractions. The increased phenolic character of these fractions may influence N cycling and the N supplying capacity of lowland soils supporting two or three annual crops of irrigated rice.     

Arsenic immobilization in anaerobic soils by the application of by-product iron materials obtained from the casting industry

ABSTRACT

Reducing the arsenic (As) concentration in rice grains is of great interest from a human health perspective. Iron (Fe) materials immobilize As in soils, thereby effectively reducing the As concentration in rice grains. We investigated the effect of by-product Fe materials obtained from the casting industry on the As mobility in two soils (soil A and soil B) by a long-term (approximately 100 days) flooded soil incubation experiment. The examined Fe materials were spent steel shot (SSS), fine spent casting sand (SCS) containing steel shot, and two kinds of residual Fe materials (RIMs) from steel shot production. Commercial Fe materials used to immobilize As (zero-valent Fe and ferrihydrite) were tested for comparison. The dissolved As in soil solution of controls for soil A and soil B reached approximately 100 and 800 μg L^?1, respectively. The effect on As immobilization of all the by-product Fe materials increased with time and was comparable to or greater than that of commercial ferrihydrite, except for SCS. The additions of SSS and RIMs decreased by more than 90% of the dissolved As in soil A and decreased by more than 50% in soil B after 100 days incubation. Overall, the effect of the by-product Fe materials on the solubility of silicon and phosphorus was much less than that of the commercial Fe materials. Considering the cost advantage over commercial Fe materials, the Fe materials obtained from the casting industry as by-products are promising amendments for the immobilization of As in paddy soils.     

土壤改良剂对冷浸田土壤特性和水稻群体质量的影响

以南方典型冷浸田为研究对象, 在明沟排水的基础上, 通过田间定位试验, 以不施土壤改良剂为对照, 研究了施用不同土壤改良剂(自研的脱硫灰改良剂、生物活性炭, 市售的土壤改良剂石灰、硅钙肥、腐植酸)对冷浸田氧化还原电位、土壤呼吸强度、土壤微生物数量、水稻群体构建及产量构成因素的影响。结果表明, 施用改良剂能够改善土壤理化性状, 提升土壤速效养分和pH,但除脱硫灰处理外, 其他改良剂处理对土壤Eh未产生显著影响。施用不同土壤改良剂在水稻各生育期均能有效增强土壤微生物呼吸强度和放线菌数量, 并且放线菌数量达到差异性显著水平(P<0.05), 生物活性炭处理下土壤呼吸强度和放线菌数量分别较对照增加67.6%和127.6%。各土壤改良剂处理与CK相比较均有助于提高叶片SPAD、茎蘖数、水稻干物质积累量、成穗数、穗粒数、产量结实率和根系伤流速率。其中以脱硫灰和生物活性炭处理改良效果最佳, 抽穗后29 d时,根系伤流速率较CK分别提高45.4%和39.1%, 叶片SPAD分别增加27.4%和22.5%; 成熟期水稻成穗数较对照提高12.1%和10.7%,干物质积累量增加68.8%和50.5%,产量分别增加12.8%和10.3%。综上所述, 土壤改良剂可有效改善冷浸田土壤特性及水稻群体质量, 脱硫灰和生物活性炭处理的改良效果最明显, 增产幅度最大。     

Organic waste amendment effects on soil microbial activity in a corn–rye rotation: Application of a new approach to community-level physiological profiling

The role of phosphorus (P) application and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, arsenic (As) and P accumulation in lettuce plants growing in an As-polluted soil (total As 250 mg kg⁻¹), was investigated. In particular, it was tested whether application of a commercial inoculum (CI), with (+P at 90 kg P ha⁻¹) and without (−P at 0 kg P ha⁻¹) P fertilizer, supported greater plant growth and provided more P, enhancing As tolerance, than indigenous fungi alone. The influence of these treatments on As and P availability in the rhizosphere and bulk soils was also investigated. Greenhouse pot experiments were established where plants were grown with and without commercial inoculum (+CI, −CI) in unsterilized conditions. Inoculation with commercial inoculum and P application together considerably increased plant biomass, by enhancing host plant P nutrition and lowering shoot and root As concentrations compared to plants inoculated only with native AMF. In the rhizosphere of +CI+P plants there was P soil depletion compared to −CI+P. The results evidenced that, with P addition, inoculation with commercial inoculum alleviated the toxicity of excessive As by improving P nutrition without increasing As concentrations in the plant, emphasizing the role of beneficial microbes and P fertilizer to improve soil fertility in As-contaminated soil.     

Effects of the Incorporation of Phosphorus and Iron into Arsenic-Spiked Artificial Soils on Root Growth of Lettuce using Response Surface Methodology

We investigated effects of phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) on root elongation (RE) of lettuce in arsenic (As)–spiked soils using response surface methodology (RSM). To stabilize interactions between As and Fe in a soil preparation, the sequential incorporation method using Fe and P (SIM_Fe-P) was applied. From a phytotoxicity assay, As in roots (As_root) was negatively associated with RE, Fe in soils, and P in roots and soils. The P in roots was also positively related to RE. In a model study, As and interaction factor between P and Fe showed negative coefficients but others showed positive ones. From a confirmation study, RE on exposure to As was verified to be much greater in soils treated by SIM_Fe-P than in soils separately treated with both elements. These results indicated that application of SIM_Fe-P to As-contaminated soils might be expected to have an advantage during the early stage of plant root growth.     

改良剂对镉污染酸性水稻土的修复效应与机理研究

为探明田间条件下施用石灰、钙镁磷肥、海泡石和腐殖酸等改良剂对Cd污染酸性水稻土的修复效应和作用机理, 通过在Cd污染区建立田间小区试验, 研究了改良剂单施和与石灰配施对Cd污染酸性水稻土中Cd作物有效性的影响。结果表明, 施用改良剂有效地改变了土壤中Cd的存在形态, 除腐殖酸外, 其他改良剂均使土壤酸提取态Cd不同程度地转化为可还原态Cd和残渣态Cd; 施用改良剂可使0.1 mol·L^-1 NaNO₃和 0.01 mol·L^-1CaCl₂提取态Cd 降低26%~97%, 降低效果为石灰+海泡石>海泡石>石灰+钙镁磷肥>钙镁磷肥>石灰>石灰+腐殖酸>腐殖酸; 改良剂使水稻地上部分的Cd吸收量降低6%~49%。试验结果还显示, 施用改良剂提高土壤pH是引起土壤中Cd作物有效性降低的主要原因之一。根据田间试验的结果, 海泡石可推荐作为Cd污染酸性水稻土的改良剂, 而腐殖酸则不宜使用。     

Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil amendments to remediation of a heavy metal-contaminated soil using sweet sorghum

Owing to their potential advantages such as waste reduction,recycling,and economic attributes,fast-growing bioenergy crops have the capacity to e?ectively phytoremediate heavy metal-contaminated soils.However,little is known about the role of microbial and chemical amendments in phytoremediation using bioenergy crops.Here,we studied the contributions of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Acaulospora mellea ZZ and three soil amendments,i.e.,hydroxyapatite (HAP),manure,and bi...     

Evaluation of Dolomite Phosphate Rock–N‐Viro Soil Mixtures for Growth of a Horticultural Crop in an Acidic Sandy Soil

Abstract

Most agricultural soils in the Indian River area, South Florida, are sandy with minimal holding capacity for moisture and nutrients. Phosphorus (P) leaching from these soils has been suspected of contributing to the eutrophication of surface waters in this region. Dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) and N‐viro soil are promising amendments to increase crop production and reduce P loss from sandy soils. Soil incubation and greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to examine the effects of Florida DPR–N‐viro soil mixtures on the growth of a horticultural crop in an acidic sandy soil and to generate information for developing a desired formula of soil amendments. Dolomite phosphate rock and N–viro soil application increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable P, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). N–viro soil had greater effect on soil pH, organic matter content, and microbial biomass than the DPR. Comparatively higher nitrification rates were found in the N–viro soil treatment than the DPR treatment. A systematic decrease in soil‐extractable P was found with increasing proportions of N‐viro soil from the combined amendments. Greenhouse study demonstrated that the application of DPR and N‐viro soil significantly improved dry‐matter yield and increased plant P, Ca, and Mg concentrations of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Based on dry‐matter yield and plant N uptake, the combined amendments that contained 30% or 20% of DPR materials appear to be optimal but remain to be confirmed by field trials.     

尿素施用对砷污染土壤pH值及砷活性的影响

砷污染土壤在我国较为常见,是影响农作物生产的主要环境胁迫因子之一。本试验对两种砷污染土壤施用不同的尿素浓度后的研究表明:两种污染土壤的pH值在短期内都随着施入尿素浓度的增大而急剧上升,交换性As随着施用尿素浓度的增大同步增加。动态试验证实,pH值上升的现象是短期的,pH值在达到最大值后,缓慢下降,pH值下降幅度最大的阶段在3~4周时段;交换性As的含量与土壤pH值的变化密切相关,其变化趋势与土壤pH值呈正相关。生物毒理结果显示:短期内,施用尿素能显著增加玉米(Z.MaysL.)苗吸收污染的土壤中As。     

镉污染水稻土中水稻氮素营养的SPAD诊断

治理和安全利用重金属污染水稻土过程中,氮素营养的快速诊断是制定合理施肥措施的基础。叶绿素测定仪SPAD已广泛应用于非污染耕地土壤中玉米、小麦和棉花等作物的氮素营养诊断,然而针对镉污染条件下的不同类型水稻土,SPAD在诊断水稻氮素营养的适应性方面仍然缺乏系统研究。本研究采集了我国水稻主产区的21种典型水稻土,以德农2000为供试水稻品种,设置无镉污染、轻度镉污染、重度镉污染处理的水稻盆栽试验,研究水稻叶片SPAD值对镉污染水稻土氮素供应诊断和水稻产量预测的能力。结果表明:水稻土类型影响了水稻叶片SPAD值对不同水平镉污染的响应,土壤p H是主控因子,其相对影响的平均值为20%。水稻叶片SPAD值与不同生育期水稻籽粒氮素含量显著正相关,其中拔节期的相关系数最大;同时水稻叶片SPAD值与水稻营养生长期(苗期至拔节期)土壤溶液总氮和铵态氮含量呈显著正相关,且不受镉污染程度和土壤类型的影响。总体上,不同生育期(尤其是拔节期)水稻叶片的SPAD值可以表征镉污染条件下不同类型水稻土氮素养分供应对水稻氮素营养的影响。     

Plant residues do not have an immediate impact on soil bacterial community composition and abundance

Plant residues are often used as soil amendments in laboratory experiments, but they can reportedly release compounds interfering with soil DNA extraction and subsequent molecular biological analyses. Theoretically, for accurate comparison of microbial community composition in soils with and without added plant residues after a period of incubation, no significant difference at the beginning of the experiment is required between the amended and unamended control soils. We mixed plant residue into soil and immediately (within 10 min) commenced DNA extraction, and then performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine bacterial community composition and abundance. Soil without plant residue addition served as a control. Five commonly used DNA extraction kits, 16S rRNA gene primer pairs, and soils, and two types (rice straw and alfalfa shoots) and three addition rates (2%, 4%, and 6%; w/w) of plant residue, were tested. In all cases, we found no significant difference in measured bacterial community composition or abundance between the treatments with and without added plant residue.     

Coal Fly Ash and Phospho‐gypsum Mixture as an Amendment to Improve Rice Paddy Soil Fertility

Abstract

Rice is a plant that requires high levels of silica (Si). As a silicate (SiO₂) source to rice, coal fly ash (hereafter, fly ash), which has an alkaline pH and high available silicate and boron (B) contents, was mixed with phosphor‐gypsum (hereafter, gypsum, 50%, wt wt^?1), a by‐product from the production of phosphate fertilizer, to improve the fly ash limitation. Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of the mixture on soil properties and rice (Oryza sativa) productivity in silt loam (SiL) and loamy sand (LS) soils to which 0 (FG 0), 20 (FG 20), 40 (FG 40), and 60 (FG 60) Mg ha^?1 were added. The mixture increased the amount of available silicate and exchangeable calcium (Ca) contents in the soils and the uptake of silicate by rice plant. The mixture did not result in accumulation of heavy metals in soil and an excessive uptake of heavy metals by the rice grain. The available boron content in soil increased with the mixture application levels up to 1.42 mg kg^?1 following the application of 60 Mg ha^?1 but did not show toxicity. The mixture increased significantly rice yield and showed the highest yields following the addition of 30–40 Mg ha^?1 in two soils. It is concluded that the fly ash and gypsum mixture could be a good source of inorganic soil amendments to restore the soil nutrient balance in rice paddy soil.     

中国史前灌溉稻田和古水稻土研究进展

通过连续4 a多的研究,科学地证明了位于江苏昆山绰墩遗址的稻田群是迄今发现的地球上最早的灌溉稻田群(6 280 a BP),提出了一套诊断古水稻田和古水稻土的技术指标;获得了新石器时期"火耕水溽"——原始灌溉稻作技术的科学证据。阐明了史前水稻土和现代水稻土表层有机质、全氮和全钾含量接近,而全磷、有效磷则是前者大大高于后者的事实,是先民长期以动物残余物肥田的结果。古、今水稻土有机质含量均高于同时期旱地土,揭示了稻田生态系统和水稻土固持大气二氧化碳的巨大潜力。新石器时期水稻土也含有较高的多环芳烃(PAHs)等有机污染物,是源于田间秸秆的焚烧。微生物学的研究表明,史前水稻土产甲烷潜势很低,硝化功能完全丢失。提出了今后应进一步研究的问题。