Replacing winter rice in non-traditional areas by strawberry reduces arsenic bioaccumulation, and improves water productivity and profitability

Abstract

Use of huge amount (1450–1650 mm) of arsenic contaminated (14.0–24.5 mg l−1) ground water to irrigate winter rice resulted in high deposition of arsenic (As) in the topsoil and in rice grains, posing a serious threat to soil and human health of the Bengal basin. Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) requires 250 mm irrigation and fetches 3.5 times more net return over the winter rice, and can be grown as an alternate crop in place of winter rice to save the environment. In comparison to rice As load in edible parts of strawberry reduced from 865 to 39 μg kg−1. Deficit irrigation (0.8 and 0.6 crop evapotranspiration, ETc) to strawberry further reduced total as well as different As species load in fruits. Jute and straw mulches recorded lower As in fruits over other mulches. Drip irrigation to recharge full or 80% of ETc loss and use of jute agrotextile surface mulch maximized root growth and yield in strawberry, benefit:cost ratio, and energy efficiency and productivity. Results demonstrate that strawberry cultivation in non-traditional winter rice growing areas of Bengal basin can potentially benefit millions of people by reducing As load in food chains, ensuring higher returns, and aid in reviving the local jute agrotextile industry.