Chemical fractions of trace metals in atmospheric wet and dry deposition and contribution to rice root and foliar uptake

Aims Atmospheric trace metal deposition is an important source in agricultural soils and crops, but a large knowledge gap exists between foliar and root uptake of wet/dry deposition. We aim to distinguish the contribution of dry and wet-deposited trace metals to rice plant via foliar and root uptake and to investigate their accumulations during the full growth season. Methods We performed an atmospheric exposure experiment using customized open top chambers (OTCs) to distinguish the impacts of wet and dry deposition contribution to foliar and root uptake and their mobility in soils. The foliar uptake and then translocation was hypothesized the major pathway of trace metal accumulation in rice grains. Results Foliar uptake of wet- and dry-deposited Cu, Zn, and Pb played an important role in their accumulations in rice plant, contributing to 44–47%, 23–25%, and 35–37% in rice grains, respectively. The leaf Cu, Zn, and Pb accumulated from atmospheric deposition can be transported upward to rice grains but nodes seem to restrict them downward translocation. Rice leaves cannot directly take up atmospheric As and the deposited As can only accumulate in rice through the root uptake. The trace metals showed high mobility in atmospheric deposition, which significantly increase the bioavailable trace metal fractions in surface soils and soil solutions. Conclusions This study provides a new insight of similar or even higher contributions of foliar uptake than root uptake of trace metals from atmospheric deposition and that reducing the accumulation of atmospheric trace metals due to deposition on leaves can effectively decrease the accumulation of trace metals in crops. Graphic abstract