Straw incorporation induces rice straighthead disease in As-contaminated paddy soil

Rice straw incorporation is globally recognized as a viable alternative to incineration. However, it might lead to arsenic (As) methylation in soils, resulting in increased accumulation of methylated As in rice plants, potentially contributing to the emergence of rice straighthead disease. To evaluate the effect of straw incorporation on the As transformation in the paddy field system, we conducted a pot experiment for rice cultivation in two paddy soils with different As background levels and also characterized the response of the soil microbial community to straw incorporation. The results showed that straw incorporation elevated the total and methylated As concentration within the soil solution and rice plants, which in turn reduced rice seed setting rate and yield, and caused straighthead disorder in rice cultivated in soils with high As levels. 16S rRNA-based sequencing demonstrated reduced abundance and diversity of microorganisms upon adding straw. Notably, the dominant phylum, Bacteroidetes, exhibited a significant increase in abundance due to straw integration, while the abundance of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria decreased. At the family level, the prevalence of Rikenellaceae increased only in soils contaminated with As following straw incorporation. Redundancy analysis showed positive associations between Rikenellaceae and levels of methylated As present in both soil porewater and rice husks, suggesting a potentially pivotal role of Rikenellaceae in the As methylation process after straw integration. These findings collectively emphasize that including straw can reshape the soil's microbial community and amplify As methylation in the soil, thereby promoting the uptake and accumulation of methylated As in rice and inducing straighthead disease in As-contaminated soil. [Display omitted] •Straw return boosts As methylation in soil and the uptake of methylated As by rice.•Straw return reduces seed setting rate and grain yield of rice in low As soil.•Straighthead disease is induced by straw addition in As-contaminated soil.•Rikenellaceae is likely the major contributor to As methylation in straw-amended soil.