ABSTRACT
Using high arsenic (As) groundwater as the main source of irrigation water is a common practice in vast rural regions due to the water resource shortage of surface water. This study aims to describes the As and Fe redistribution during irrigation and consequent water table fluctuation through column experiment. Results clearly demonstrate the oxygen exchange between atmosphere and column pore during both water table decrease and recovery. The exchanged oxygen has resulted in the As and Fe redistribution. Moreover, the fixed As and Fe were accumulated mostly on the top of the column during percolation. However, topsoil is precisely the site where nutrients come from for crops. As a result, As uptake by crops from soil may continually occur. Thus, it is of great significance for food security to reduce the agricultural use of high-As groundwater.
