The toxicity of arsenic in soil and ground water is one of the most important environmental problems particularly in South-East Asia. Arsenic-polluted irrigation water creates hazard in soil environment and also in crop quality. In the present study, response of black gram (Vigna mungo L.) to arsenic with or without phosphate application was investigated. Arsenic-treated plants showed reduction in their growth and pigment content. Arsenic significantly enhanced lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, and level of proline showing oxidative stress. Arsenic toxicity was associated with an increase in the activities of antioxidative enzymes like superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase whereas catalase activity decreased at higher arsenic dose. Joint application of phosphate with arsenic resulted in significant alterations in most of the parameters tested under the purview of arsenic treatment alone which lead to better growth in black gram. 1. Introduction Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid [1], universally present in many environments. It is highly toxic to all forms of life. Arsenic is a group I carcinogen [2] and occurs predominantly in inorganic form as arsenate (AsV) and arsenite (AsIII). Arsenic originates from anthropogenic and geochemical sources [3]. In addition, human activities have caused an accumulation of arsenic in soils through production/use of arsenic-based pesticides [4], manufacture of arsenic based compounds, smelting of arsenic ores, mining processes, and fuel utilization [5]. Thus, human activity has exacerbated the problem of arsenic toxicity. Water supplies, soils, and sediments polluted with arsenic are the major sources of drinking water and food chain contamination in numerous countries [6, 7]. This has caused a worldwide epidemic of arsenic poisoning, with many people having developed skin lesions, cancers, and other symptoms [8, 9]. Accumulation of arsenic in human hair (180–20340？μg/kg) and nails (380–44890？μg/kg; [10]) in West Bengal and Bangladesh is indicative of chronic arsenic toxicity. Study shows that, besides groundwater, food is also an important pathway of arsenic in to human system [11, 12]. Water is a very important input for crop production and if arsenic contaminated water is used for irrigation, it may create hazard both in soil environment and in crop quality. Twenty percent loss of crop (cereal) production due to high concentration (20？ppm) of arsenic in plant body was reported by Davis et al. [13]. Long-term use of arsenic laden water for irrigation result in higher arsenic levels in
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