Biochar was applied to an As-contaminated paddy soil to test its influence on As release under anaerobic condition. Biochar enhanced As and ferrous Fe concentrations in soil solution, decreased soil As in amorphous Fe/Al oxide fraction. Increased As release strongly correlated with increased ferrous Fe and decreased As in soil amorphous Fe/Al oxide fraction. Relative abundance of Fe reducing bacteria and As reducing functional genes increased with biochar amendment.