Agricultural practies to mitigage arsenic toxicity to rice
2007 Impact statement- Duxbury, John M
abstract
Toxicity of arsenic to rice that caused yield to decline from seven-to-two tons-per-hectare was substantially reversed by using a raised bed and furrow system of production that provided a more oxygenated environment. Arsenic content of rice grain and straw were reduced up to two-fold and six-fold, respectively.
submitted by
- Duxbury, John M | Professor
issue being addressed
Farmers were observing progressively reduced yields of rice in arsenic-affected areas, threatening food security and causing them to shift to less desirable crops.
response
Appropriate technology that we were working with elsewhere was applied to the arsenic problem in on-farm research. The impact was favorable and the technology is ready for widespread adoption.
impact assessment
Research demonstrated that the raised-bed and furrow-system approach works with rice and provides many advantages to farmers. Toxicity of arsenic to rice that had caused crop yield to decline was substantially reversed by using a raised-bed and furrow-system of production. This represents a new way of growing rice that can also be extended to other crops. Several agencies are interested in disseminating the technology in Bangladesh.
academic priority area
- Environmental Sciences | CALS academic priority
- Land-Grant Mission | CALS academic priority
has geographic focus
- Bangladesh | country
- Nepal | country
- India | country
- Louisiana | state
- Texas | state
- Mississippi | state
- Arkansas | state
funding source description
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
collaborators
none
key personnel
- Dr. G. Sanaullah
- TAlam
department, unit, division
- Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS) | Cornell department
mission focus
- extension/outreach | project type
- research | project type
From CALS annual faculty reporting. Imported on August 5, 2008