Chao He

Rice, a staple food for over half of the global population, faces significant threats from environmental stressors such as heavy metal (HMs) contamination, notably cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), and increasing drought severity, exacerbated by climate change. These challenges not only compromise rice yield and quality but also pose serious food safety risks due to HM accumulation in grains, endangering human health. Modified biochar (MBC), a carbon-rich material derived from the pyrolysis of organic matter with post-treatment enhancements, has emerged as a strategy to address these dual stressors. MBC application (typically 5–20 t ha⁻¹) reduces Cd and As bioavailability in paddy soils by 40–60% and decreases metal accumulation in rice grains by 20–85% compared to the control. Under drought conditions, MBC improves soil water-holding capacity by 11–45% and enhances crop water use efficiency by 15–24%, leading to yield improvements of 20–50% under moderate water deficit. Furthermore, MBC supports nutrient availability, fosters robust root systems, and enhances soil aeration, collectively improving rice growth under adverse conditions. Beyond its agronomic benefits, MBC provides a framework for addressing multiple challenges by integrating scientific innovation, policy alignment, and community participation. This approach not only reduces heavy metal toxicity and strengthens plant resilience but also enhances food security and advances Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 15, 17). By promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture and contributing to climate change mitigation, MBC represents a transformative tool for ensuring sustainable rice production in the face of global challenges.

The pervasive toxicity of active aluminum (Al³⁺) in acidic red soils threatens agroecosystem sustainability, with conventional chemical stabilizers facing cost and secondary pollution constraints. This study evaluated rice husk/sawdust and their pyrolysis-derived biochar as stabilizers, focusing on microbial synergy. Results showed 3% rice husk biochar (RB) achieved 22.1 ± 1.1% stabilization efficiency within 180 days, outperforming sawdust biochar (12.1 ± 0.8%) and raw biomass. Biochar’s alkalinity and porosity created neutral niches, enriching denitrifiers (Thiobacillus, Arthrobacter, Thermomonas) that elevated pH, promoted Al(OH)₃ precipitation, and enhanced oxygen-containing functional groups. This work valorizes agricultural waste for long-term Al³⁺ toxicity mitigation.

The contamination of paddy soils with arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), coupled with the depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC), poses significant threats to rice yields and quality. There is an urgent need to identify a suitable soil additive capable of achieving simultaneous heavy metal remediation and promotion of organic matter enrichment. The current study introduced two novel iron (Fe)/magnesium (Mg)-based bimetal-oxide-modified rice straw biochar (RSB), namely RSB-Fe/Mn and RSB-Fe/Mg. It evaluated their effectiveness in As/Cd immobilization and SOC preservation. An 8-week cultivation experiment was carried out in sequential drying–flooding moisture fluctuation conditions, with the soil pore water As/Cd (PWAs/Cd) and SOC fractions monitored. The mechanisms of As/Cd immobilization were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations. Results revealed that PWAs and PWCd were reduced by up to 67.1% and 80.2% during the drying period and by 27.0% and 76.5% during the flooding period, respectively. Additionally, SOC content increased by 16.3% and 33.9% with RSB-Fe/Mn addition during the drying and flooding period, respectively, with an increase in the mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) fraction. The study proves that RSB-Fe/Mn and RSB-Fe/Mg are effective for soil As/Cd passivation and SOC stabilization, offering a promising solution to mitigate As and Cd pollution in paddy soils while maintaining soil quality.