ABSTRACT
Soil arsenic (As) determination is crucial for the assessment of arsenic flux from agricultural soil as focused in this study. Total content of arsenic flux has been measured by using two parametric equations that has been developed considering seasonal variation as well as irrigation practices namely conventional flooding (CF) and periodical flooding (PF). Depending on soil physic-chemical parameters, soil nutritional profiling has been done to know the difference between these two differentially irrigated fields. Soil microbial diversity has been identified using metagenomics and arsenic resistant (AsR) gene specific microbial community was checked via high-throughput sequencing. Altered microbial community with differential gene expression were found that suggested a change in arsenic content under these field conditions and how varied AsR microbes can propagate bioavailable soil As. CF field soil contains an average As concentration of 61.33 ± 0.96 mg/kg whereas reduction in As content found to be 2.5 fold in PF fields resulting in 26.14 ± 0.77 mg/kg. The study, here, shows positive correlation between microbial redox change of As and water management practices making lesser bioavailable soil As.
