PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Paddy soils are increasingly threatened by heavy metal contamination from the overuse of agrochemicals, industrial emissions, and wastewater irrigation because these challenges pose risks to food safety, crop productivity, and environmental quality. High costs, environmental trade-offs, or low effectiveness under flooded paddy conditions often limit the use of conventional remediation techniques. This review examines the synergistic potential of organic amendment-assisted phytoremediation (OAAP) as a sustainable approach for detoxifying paddy soils contaminated with heavy metals. This approach combines plant-based remediation with the application of organic amendments to enhance the bioavailability of heavy metals, support plant growth and development, and restore soil health. We selected eight studies from the literature published between 2005 and 2025 using strict inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies demonstrate that OAAP significantly improves heavy metals uptake by hyperaccumulator plants by enhancing soil organic matter, microbial activity, and enzymatic functions. The mechanisms identified include chelation, rhizosphere acidification, activation of antioxidative enzymes, and shifts in microbial communities. However, post-remediation concerns such as safe biomass disposal and long-term soil health remain underexplored. Although OAAP demonstrates strong potential in controlled settings, field-scale validations and comprehensive risk assessments are essential for broader adoption. This review highlights OAAP’s promise as a nature-based and low-input strategy for rehabilitating heavy metal-contaminated paddy soils, aligning with the goals of sustainable agriculture.