Combined amendment reduces soil Cd availability and rice Cd accumulation in three consecutive rice planting seasons

The scientific application of stabilized materials has been considered an effective method for the in situ remediation of Cd-contaminated soil. This study aimed to investigate the persistence of the effect of a combined amendment of limestone and sepiolite (LS) on soil Cd availability and accumulation in rice grown in a mildly Cd-contaminated paddy field (0.45 mg/kg of Cd) over three consecutive rice seasons. 1125–4500 kg/ha of LS was applied to the soil before the first rice planting season and 562.5–2250 kg/ha of LS was supplemented before the third rice planting season. The application of LS (1125–4500 kg/ha) increased the soil pH by 0.44–1.09, 0.18–0.53, and 0.42–0.68 in the first, second, and third season, respectively, and decreased the soil acid-extractable Cd content by 18.2–36.4%, 17.7–33.5%, and 9.6–17.6%. LS application significantly decreased the Cd contents in the rice tissues. The application of 4500 kg/ha of LS decreased the Cd content in brown rice to below the National Food Limit Standard of 0.2 mg/kg (GB 2762-2017) in the three consecutive rice seasons. However, the effect of LS on the soil-rice system was significantly weakened in the third season. The supplementary application of 562.5–2250 kg/ha of LS further decreased the Cd content in brown rice by 26.1–56.5% and decreased the health risk index by 23.7–43.8%. Therefore, it was recommended to apply 4500 kg/ha of LS in the first season and to supplement 2250 kg/ha of LS in the third season to effectively guarantee the clean production of rice in three consecutive rice seasons.