Effects of pH variations caused by redox reactions and pH buffering capacity on Cd(II) speciation in paddy soils during submerging/draining alternation

Incubation experiments were conducted to investigate the influencing factors of pH variation in different paddy soils during submerging/draining alternation and the relationship between pH buffering capacity (pHBC) and Cd speciation in ten paddy soils developed from different parent materials (including 8 acid paddy soils and 2 alkaline paddy soils). The soil pHBC and the changes in soil pH, Eh, Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ , SO 4 2- and Cd speciation were determined. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pHBC of these paddy soils, indicating that soil CEC is a key factor affecting the pHBC of paddy soils. The contribution of Fe(III) oxide reduction to H + consumption is far greater than the reduction of Mn(IV)/Mn(III) oxides and SO 4 2- during the submerging. For example, the contribution of the reduction of manganese oxides, SO 4 2- and iron oxides to H + consumption in the paddy soils from Anthrosol at 15 d submerging was 1.2%, 11.6% and 87.2%, respectively. This confirms that the reduction of Fe(III) oxides plays a leading role in increasing soil pH. Importantly, we noticed that during submerging, soil pH was increased and resulted in the content of available Cd in soils being reduced. This was due to the transformation of Cd to less active forms. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the change rate of available Cd, the percentage of acid extractable Cd and pH variation. This suggests that the variation in soil pH was responsible for the transformation of Cd speciation. In addition, the change rate of available Cd and the percentage of acid extractable Cd concentration were significantly negatively correlated with soil pHBC. The soil with higher pHBC experienced less pH change, and thus the change rate of available Cd and the percentage of acid extractable Cd concentration were less for the soil. The results of this study can provide a basis for the remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils. • Soil CEC is the main factor affecting paddy soil pH buffering capacity (pHBC). • Fe(II) production plays a major role in paddy soil pH increase during submerging. • Great soil pHBC slowed down the decline in paddy soil pH during draining. • Great soil pHBC inhibited Cd mobilization in paddy soils during draining.