Role of EDTA in arsenic mobilization and its uptake by maize grown on an As-polluted soil

► Treating soil with EDTA increased water soluble and AB-DTPA extractable As significantly. ► Shoots As uptake increased significantly by EDTA applications. ► Roots As uptake did not increase significantly except at 2.5 and 5.0 mmol kg−1 EDTA. ► Applications of EDTA in the presence of maize plant are unsuitable for As phytoextraction. ► Only shoots of maize plants grown on soil without EDTA treatment can be used in animal feeding.