Drying-submergence alternation enhanced crystalline ratio and varied surface properties of iron plaque on rice (Oryza sativa) roots

Iron plaque (IP) is valuable in nutrient management and contaminant tolerance for rice (Oryza sativa) because it can adsorb various nutrients and toxic ions. Crystalline ratio (CR) can be defined as the proportion of crystalline iron (CI) to total IP to describe IP crystallinity. Although the knowledge on IP has abounded, the information on the relationship among its formation condition, surface properties, and CR remains insufficient. In this study, quartz sand-soil cultivation with rice was conducted to explore the effect of drying-submergence alternation (DSA) on CI, amorphous iron (AI), CR, root oxidizing capacity (ROC), and surface properties of IP with different treatment durations and at different stages. Fourteen-day DSA treatment increased CI to 2.20 times of that after continuous submergence (CS) but decreased AI to 72.3% of that after CS. Correspondingly, CR was raised to 6.89% from 4.08%. Remarkably, CR of IP after DSA ending in submergence and ending in drying was 6.89% and 4.23%, respectively. In addition, ROC after 14-day DSA was enhanced to twice of that after CS. Results from scanning electronic microscope suggested that 14-day DSA induced thinner sheets with finer particles in IP compared to that after CS. Results from X-ray diffraction revealed that IP contained higher proportions of goethite, lepidocrocite, magnetite, and hematite after DSA than those after CS. Variable charge and surface area of IP after DSA were only 26.5% and 32.0% of those after CS, respectively. Together, our results indicated that proper strength DSA promoted ROC and transformation from AI to CI, and consequently increased CR of IP, while it changed its surface properties.