Manganese-Enriched Biochar Reduces Cd Uptake and Accumulation in Rice by Altering Soil Cd Speciation and Enhancing Mn–Cd Antagonism

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in paddy soils threatens rice production and food safety. This study investigated the effects of manganese (Mn)-enriched biochar on soil Cd immobilization and Cd accumulation in rice using a pot experiment with Cd-contaminated soil. Unenriched biochar and Mn-enriched biochar prepared from rice straw were applied at two rates (0.5% and 1.0%). Both biochar types significantly increased soil pH and organic matter and promoted the transformation of Cd from labile fractions to more stable residual forms, thereby reducing Cd bioavailability. As a result, Cd accumulation in rice tissues, including straw and brown rice, was significantly reduced. Correlation analysis further indicated that increased soil pH was associated with reduced Cd mobility and plant uptake. Mn-enriched biochar markedly increased Mn accumulation and uptake efficiency in rice while decreasing Cd uptake efficiency, indicating a strong antagonistic interaction between Mn and Cd in the soil-plant system. Notably, a low application rate of Mn-enriched biochar (0.5%) achieved Cd reduction effects comparable to those of a higher dose of unenriched biochar (1.0%). These results suggest that Mn-enriched biochar is an effective and potentially cost-efficient strategy for reducing Cd bioavailability in paddy soils and mitigating Cd accumulation in rice.