JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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This study was carried out to investigate zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) concentration in paddy soil and rice grain produced in central and southwest Iran in relation to soil and plant factors, and their intake in peoples diet was also assessed. Rice crops and associated surface soils (0-30 cm) were collected from 136 fields in Isfahan, Fars and Khuzestan provinces. The result, showed the DTPA-Zn concentration in more than 50% of paddy soils was less than its critical deficiency concentration (2 mg kg-1). The grain Zn concentration in more than 54% of the rice samples was less than 20 mg kg-1. The measured Cd concentrations in paddy soils and edible part of rice exceeded the world health organization (WHO) value in more than 12% of the samples. By considering the average daily rice consumption of 110 g per capita, the Zn intake from rice consumption was estimated about 10% needed for female and male adult. Diet intake analysis did not indicate any excessive dietary intake of Cd when Cd mean of concentrations in rice grain was 0.04 mg/kg, but based on the results of risk analysis, it is more than safely level for contaminated rice.

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Paddy soils provide the staple diet for nearly half of the world's population. The formation of the Anthrosols is induced by tilling the wet soil (puddling), flooding and drainage regimes associated with the development of a plow pan and specific redoximorphic features. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term rice cultivation on physico-chemical properties and clay mineralogy of soils of three rice farms and compare the results with adjacent virgin lands in Yasouj region. Paddy soils exhibited larger contents of clay, organic carbon, saturation percentage, cation exchangeable capacity, cation exchange activity classes, electrical conductivity and lower content of calcium carbonate equivalent compared to non-paddy soils. This land use showed higher proportions of Feo, Fet and lower content of Fed. No such differences were noticed with the type of clay minerals in both land uses. Paddy soils contained greater amount of smectite, particularly in the surface horizons. Smectite in paddy soils exhibited lower layer charge and higher degree of crystallinity compared to non-paddy soils. Transformation of illite and chlorite to expandable minerals is a possible mechanism for lower amounts of these minerals in paddy soils.

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Water management in cracked paddy soils is an important issue in rice cultivation. In order to study organic matter and zeolite effect and their interaction on moisture conditions and hydraulic and physical properties of paddy soils, the organic matter (rice straw) at four levels (0, 8, 16 and 24 tons per hectare), zeolite at four levels (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 percent ), and also moisture stages of soil at 5 levels were selected. This experiment was conducted in Rice Research Institute of Iran. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used to study the effect of treatments on different subjects. The amount of moisture, bulk density and the distance of soil from the wall of container were measured in a 4-month period. The obtained results showed that the interaction effects of organic matter and zeolite on soil moisture content were statistically significant at one percentage level. Addition of plant residues caused an increase in soil moisture weight and reduction in bulk density compared to the control treatment. It was also found that soil moisture content and bulk density were highly correlated. Bulk density of control treatment ranged from 0.75 to1.7 gr/cm3, while with addition of 1.5 % crop residue the bulk density ranged from 0.7 to 1.3gr/cm3. Overall results show that crop residues are effective in reduction of crack parameters of soil , but zeolite cannot be effective although it causes more maintenance of soil moisture.

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Phosphorus behavior in waterlogged soils is significantly different from non-waterlogged soils. Changes in available phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus fractions after waterlogging in the paddy soils of north of Iran were studied in a laboratory research. A factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with two replications was performed with factors of soil at 14 levels (10 alkaline-calcareous and 4 non-calcareous or acid soils) and duration of waterlogging period at three levels (0, 30, 90 days). At the end of waterlogging period, phosphorus fractions in calcareous soils by Jiang and Gu method and in non-calcareous soils by Kuo method and available-P by Olsen method were determined. The results showed that the level of available-P in all soils was increased 90 days after waterlogging (on the average 2.3 times). In general, all P fractions were changed significantly after waterlogging and the amount of change was different depending on P fraction, soil type, and duration of waterlogging period. These results indicated the complex behavior of P in soils. The Al-phosphates were increased in 12 out of 14 calcareous and non-calcareous soils 90 days after waterlogging compared with air-dry soil. The Fe-phosphates were decreased in 9 out of 10 calcareous soils 90 days after waterlogging compared with air-dry soil while the effect of duration of waterlogging period on the Fe-phosphates in non-calcareous soils was not significant. The readily soluble-P in non-calcareous soils increased 30 and 90 days after waterlogging. The results indicated that some inorganic P fractions transformed into other fractions and probably organic P transformed into inorganic P during soil waterlogging period.

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Topography and land use are among the most important factors affecting the soil formation. Chemical forms of Fe and magnetic susceptibility (χ) are widely used for the evaluation of soil development. This study was conducted in order to determine the effect of these factors on χ. A toposequence was selected in Madvan Plain, Northern Yasouj. Nine soil profiles (paddy and dryland soils) were dug and sampled from diagnostic horizons. Magnetic susceptibility was measured by Bartington Dual Frequency, MS2 Meter at frequencies of 0.46 and 4.6 KHz. Results indicated that less amounts of χ, frequency dependence of χ (χfd%) and CBD extractable Fe (Fed) (3.1, 2.6 and 2.7 times, respectively), and more quantities of oxalate extractable Fe (Feo) and Feo/Fed ratio (5 and 7.2 times, respectively) were measured in paddy soils. The highest value of χ was observed in pedons located on plateau and piedmont plains, and the lowest belonged to those located on river terraces with aquic conditions. Compared to paddy soils, χ enhancement at soil surface was greater (17%) in dryland soils. A positive correlation existed between χ and some soil characteristics such as Fed, clay content and χfd%.