Comparative analysis of zinc, copper, cadmium, and arsenic accumulation in forage-grain rice: Implications for food safety and health risks.

Forage-grain ratoon rice (FG-RR) systems, integrating grain and forage production, promise a sustainable approach to enhance food security and livestock development in marginal regions where ratoon rice (T-RR) is traditionally cultivated. Here, we quantified zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in ratoon crop grains from 23 rice varieties at four mowing stages (heading, milk-ripening, dry-ripening, and full maturity) of the main crop. Early mowing at the milk-ripening stage significantly reduced As levels (16.