DYNAMICS OF ARSENIC IN IRRIGATION WATER AND SOILS

Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a great concern in Bangladesh. As reported, 59

out of 64 districts across the country are affected by As contamination which is a big
threat to the human health and ecology of the country. The element As may affect human
health in two ways: through the intake of contaminated drinking water, and through the
intake of food (cereals, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, etc.) from crops grown on lands
having accumulated toxic concentrations of As from As contaminated irrigation water.

Arsenic forms a variety of inorganic and organic compounds in soils and is present
mainly as inorganic species, either arsenate (ASV) or arsenite (AsIII). The inorganic
arsenic species are highly soluble in water and may change valency states depending on
pH and redox conditions. The highly reducing nature of groundwater is believed to
trigger the reduction of some of the arsenic to arsenite (III) and possible desorption of
arsenic since As (III) is normally less strongly sorbed by the iron oxides than As (V)
under neutral pH conditions.

An understanding of the concentration and speciation of arsenic (arsenate and arsenite) in

contaminated irrigation water and soils is important to predict its potential bioavailability
and for planning management strategies. Under anaerobic condition (flooded soils),
arsenic has greater mobility than in aerated environments owing to the formation of
arsenite. The means by which arsenic is reduced and secondarily partitioned in anaerobic
environments is not well understood. Hence, it bears significant importance to understand
the fate of arsenic in irrigation water, and its dynamics in soils

Study 1: Fate of irrigation water arsenic in soils

Objectives
 To determine the solubility and speciation of arsenic in irrigation water
 To assess the absorption and retention of arsenic in soils
  To evaluate the effect of arsenic contaminated irrigation water on yield and
quality of crops e.g. rice, wheat and vegetable crops
Activities

 Determine the arsenic concentration and speciation in the irrigation water (from
pump and channels), and in the irrigated soils (laterally and vertically) in
selected areas at different times of boro rice season
 Determine the chemical characterization (e.g. pH, Fe oxide, P )of irrigation
water and irrigated soils as to see their relationship with arsenic
 Determine the clay mineralogy of some selected soils
 Assess the effect of arsenic irrigation water on the yield and quality of crops
(rice, wheat and vegetables)
 Evaluate the irrigation management on arsenic arsenic absorption by plants

Study 2: Dynamics of arsenic in wetland rice soils

Objectives

 To determine the concentration and speciation of arsenic in soils

 To understand the transformations and mobility of arsenic in soils
 To examine the effect of arsenic contaminated soils on yield and quality of rice

Activities

 Determine the total and extractable arsenic content of soils in some selected
areas at variable soil depths
 Determine the arsenic absorption and arsenic retention capacity of soils as a
function of pH, clay content and some other variables (Fe, Al and P)
 Determine the clay mineralogy of some selected soils
 Assess the effect of arsenic contaminated soils on the yield and quality of rice in
boro and aman seasons (greenhouse and field experiments)
 Evaluate the fertilizer management (high, medium and low dose) on arsenic
absorption by plants