Understanding the effects of long-term different fertilizer applications on methylmercury accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants

Abstract

The effects of long-term applications of fertilizer form and rate on methylmercury concentration in rice grain have been previously reported. However, there remains a large gap in understanding fertilizer treatments affect the transformation of mercury (Hg) in paddy soils and the translocation of Methylmercury (MeHg) in rice plants. Thus, we investigated the effects of four fertilizer treatments (NK, nitrogen and potassium; NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; NPKM, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and swine manure; and NPKS, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and rice straw) on mercury (Hg) methylation in paddy soils and on MeHg translocation in rice plants after a 24-year period; specifically, we investigated differences in MeHg production in paddy soils and MeHg mass flow in rice plants. The results showed that Geobacteracea and Methanosarcinacea were the major Hg-methylating microorganisms and their relative abundances were significantly promoted by rice straw return, which led to the significantly higher MeHg concentration both in paddy soils and in the rice grain of NPKS treatment compared with control. In addition, the phosphate and organic fertilizers increased MeHg translocation from the roots to the leaves and grain more than the nitrogen and potassium fertilizers did. In detail, compared with the control, NK increased MeHg concentrations in the rice grain by approximately 1-fold; NPK and NPKM, by approximately 3-fold; and NPKS, by approximately 8-fold. Last, we suggest that policy-makers worldwide should comprehensively assess the high potential risk of MeHg in rice grain in large production areas where rice straw is returned.