Effect of iron (Fe) concentration on rice field sustainability and paddy growth in Pesouha Village, Pomalaa District, Kolaka Regency

Abstract

Kolaka Regency, located in Southeast Sulawesi, is one of Indonesia’s largest nickel-producing regions, where mining activities have the potential to impact the surrounding agricultural land. Pesouha Village, situated near mining sites and irrigated by a river, faces risks from acid mine drainage, which lowers the water pH and mobilizes heavy metals, particularly iron (Fe). This study aimed to evaluate the presence of Fe contamination in paddy soils and rice plants. Soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were collected from three stations near mining areas and one control, each with three replicates (a total of 12 composites). Samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) at the Center for the Application of Agricultural Instrument Standards (BPSIP), South Sulawesi. The results showed that the Fe levels in the soils were 3.10 mg kg −1 (Station 1), 2.92 mg kg −1 (Station 2), 2.17 mg kg −1 (Station 3), and 1.19 mg kg −1 (Station 4), all exceeding the Indonesian National Standard threshold (>0.05 mg kg −1 ). In rice plants, Fe accumulated mainly in vegetative organs: roots contained 65,655–47,360 mg kg −1 , stems 712–309 mg kg −1 , and leaves 845–607 mg kg −1 , with slightly lower values in the control group. Elevated Fe concentrations indicate significant transfer from soil to plant tissues, suggesting that mining activities contribute to heavy metal stress in rice. These findings highlight the potential risk of reduced crop quality and long-term soil degradation, underscoring the need for sustainable land management in mining-affected areas to mitigate these effects.

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