Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on cadmium accumulation by different tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) types

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) on cadmium (Cd) uptake by tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was studied in a pot experiment. Three commercial varieties, Basma BEK, K326 and TN90, representing three distinct tobacco types, were each grown in a different soil with nutritional conditions matching as closely as possible their requirements for field production. Cd concentrations in these soils were within the background range. Each variety was either non-mycorrhizal or inoculated with one of five AM fungal isolates. Cd concentration in leaves was decreased by inoculation with selected isolates in the K326 and TN90 variety grown in acidic soils. In contrast, it was increased by inoculation with most isolates in the Basma BEK variety grown in a basic soil with low Cd availability. Besides, plants of all three varieties had significantly higher leaf concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen in some inoculated treatments. The percentage of root colonisation was mostly low in the inoculated treatments. In the Basma BEK and TN90 variety, the tested AM fungal isolates differed in their ability to colonise roots, but no correlation was found between the root colonisation of an isolate and its effects on the Cd concentrations in tobacco leaves. One isolate influenced most pronouncedly Cd concentrations and improved mineral nutrition in all the three combinations of variety and soil despite its low colonisation levels. AM symbiosis probably affected Cd uptake of tobacco by indirect mechanisms such as stimulation of root growth or mycorrhizal plant mediated changes in chemical or biological soil properties.     

Root colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal, fine endophytic and dark septate fungi across a pH gradient in acid beech forests

Colonisation by root endophytes can be beneficial to plants growing on acid, nutrient-poor soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can supply herbs with nutrients and may give protection against aluminium toxicity. Two other root colonising fungi, fine endophytes (FE) and dark septate fungi (DSE), are less well known but are potentially of benefit to their host plant. AM fungi are the most prevalent symbionts in herbs at neutral to acidic soil pH. At extremely low pH, fungal growth can be limited and AM colonisation is usually rare. Fine and dark septate endophytes, on the other hand, have been observed more often under these conditions. In order to relate endophyte colonisation to a gradient in soil pH, we investigated root colonisation by AM, FE and DSE in Maianthemum bifolium, Galium odoratum, Mercurialis perennis and Stellaria nemorum, from a range of acidic beech forests. With decreasing pH, colonisation by AM decreased, whereas the other two endophytes increased. AM and FE colonisation were inversely correlated in Maianthemum bifolium. We compared changes in root colonisation with those in chemical composition of soil and leaf samples and found a positive correlation between leaf magnesium concentrations and the presence of DSE in Galium odoratum. Aluminium concentration in Maianthemum bifolium tended to be lower when FE colonisation was high, suggesting a possible role for the fungi in plant protection against Al. We suggest that FE and DSE may replace AM fungi in herbaceous vegetation at extremely low pH, counteracting some of the negative effects of high soil acidity on plants.     

Mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms reduce antioxidant enzyme activities in maize and sunflower plants grown in Cd-polluted soils

Changes in plant antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) in response to cadmium (Cd) pollution are an important mechanism for plant growth and tolerance to Cd-induced stress. The main objective of this greenhouse study was to determine the combined influence of earthworm and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungal inoculation and their interactions with Cd on AOEs and proline accumulation in leaves of two major crops under Cd stress. Maize (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants were exposed to Cd stress (10 and 20 mg kg⁻¹ soil), inoculated with either earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus L.) or AM fungi (Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae species) in a pot experiment for three months. Exposure to Cd decreased shoot dry weights, increased shoot Cd and P concentrations, leaf proline accumulation and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants and both in the presence and absence of earthworms. Inoculation of both model plants with earthworms and AM fungi decreased shoot Cd concentrations and the activity of all AOEs, except PPO. Although earthworm activity enhanced the proline content of sunflower in Cd-polluted soils, the proline level of both plants remained unaffected by AM fungi. AM fungi and earthworms may decrease the activity of AOEs through a decline in shoot Cd toxicity and concentration, confirming that plant inoculation with these soil organisms improves maize and sunflower tolerance and protection against Cd toxicity. Generally, the effect of AM fungal inoculation on plant responses to Cd addition was greater than that of earthworm activity. Nonetheless, the interactive effect of AM fungus and earthworm is of minor importance for most of the plant AOEs in Cd-polluted soils.     

Time-course of heavy metal uptake in maize and clover as affected by root density and different mycorrhizal inoculation regimes

A pot experiment was conducted to test the effect of three microbial regimes on the time course of heavy metal uptake in clover and maize from an industrially polluted soil. The three treatments included: (1) an intact flora of bacteria and fungi, including indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi together with soil microfauna; (2) the indigenous bacterial/fungal flora except AM fungi, reintroduced into sterilized soil; or (3) the same bacterial/fungal flora plus an AM fungus. For the final harvest, two pot sizes were included to assess the effect of root density. Plant uptake of P and heavy metals varied according to plant species, harvest time and soil treatment. For both plant species, shoot concentration of Zn, Cd and Cu decreased and Ni increased with plant age. Plants growing in sterilized soil with reintroduced AM fungi generally grew better, but contained higher concentrations of heavy metals than those colonized by indigenous AM fungi. Plants with mycorrhiza frequently contained more P, Zn, Cd, Cu and Pb in roots and shoots compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. Elevated root/shoot concentration ratios of P and metals indicate a sequestration of metal phosphates in mycorrhizal roots. Mycorrhizal performance was influenced by root density. At low root densities, metal concentrations in mycorrhizal plants were reduced, whereas it had no effect at high root densities when the entire soil volume was efficiently exploited by roots. We conclude that root density data are essential for interpretations of the influence of AM on metal uptake in plants.     

The significant contribution of mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms to maize protection and phytoremediation in Cd-polluted soils

Mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms can individually or interactively influence plant growth and heavy metal uptake. The influence of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi either alone or in combination on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and cadmium (Cd) uptake was investigated in a calcareous soil artificially spiked with Cd. Soils were contaminated with Cd (10 and 20 mg Cd kg⁻¹), inoculated or un-inoculated with the epigeic earthworm Lumbricus rubellus and two AM fungal species (Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae) for two months of growth under greenhouse conditions. Generally, earthworms alone increased both shoot P uptake and biomass but decreased shoot Cd concentration and root Cd uptake. AM fungi individually often increased total maize P uptake, declined shoot Cd concentration, and consequently produced higher total biomass. However, R. irregularis enhanced shoot Cd uptake at low Cd level and root Cd uptake at high Cd level. In plants inoculated with F. mosseae species, earthworms increased shoot biomass and Cd uptake, decreased root biomass and Cd uptake at all Cd levels, and increased shoot Cd concentration at low Cd level. In plants colonized by R. irregularis species, however, earthworm addition decreased maize biomass only at high Cd level and root Cd concentration and total maize Cd uptake at both Cd levels. Earthworm activity decreased Cd transfer from the soil to maize roots at low Cd level, but this was counterbalanced in the presence of F. mosseae. Mycorrhizal symbiosis significantly reduced the transfer of Cd from roots to shoots, independence of earthworm effect. Overall, it is concluded that L. rubellus and AM fungi, in particular F. mosseae isolate, improved maize tolerance to Cd toxicity both individually and interactively by increasing plant growth and P nutrition, and restricting Cd transfer to the aboveground biomass. Consequently, the single and interactive effects of the two soil organisms might potentially be important not only in protecting maize plants against Cd toxicity, but also in Cd phytostabilization in soils polluted by this highly toxic metal.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation increases copper binding capacity of root cell walls of Oryza sativa L. and reduces copper uptake

There is evidence that colonisation by mycorrhizal fungi can protect host plants from toxic concentrations of heavy metals. The mechanism by which protection is provided by the fungus for any particular metal is poorly understood. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were inoculated with Glomus mosseae and grown for 4 weeks to ensure strong colonisation. The plants were then exposed to low to toxic concentrations of copper (Cu) and the uptake and distribution were examined. The effect of mycorrhizal colonisation on the cell wall composition and Cu binding capacity of roots was also investigated. Mycorrhizal plants showed moderate reductions in Cu concentrations in roots but large reductions in shoots. In roots, mycorrhizal plants accumulated more Cu in cell walls but much less in the symplasm compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. The differences in cell wall binding of Cu could be partly explained by changes in the composition of the cell wall. The mechanistic basis for the reduced Cu accumulation and the potential beneficial consequences of mycorrhizal associations on plant growth in Cu toxic soil are discussed.     

Growth and interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soils from limestone and acid rock habitats

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) development in different soil types, and the influence of AM fungal hyphae on their original soil were investigated. Plantago lanceolata, which can grow in soils of a very wide pH range, was grown in two closely related limestone soils and an acid soil from rock habitats. Plants were colonised by the indigenous AM fungal community. The use of compartmented systems allowed us to compare soil with and without mycorrhizal hyphae. Root colonisation of P. lanceolata was markedly higher in the limestone soils (30-60%) than in the acid soil (5-20%), both in the original habitat and in the experimental study. Growth of extraradical AM fungal hyphae was detected in the limestone soils, but not in the acid soil, using the signature fatty acid 16:1ω5 as biomass indicator. Analysis of signature fatty acids demonstrated an increased microbial biomass in the presence of AM fungal hyphae as judged for example from an increased amount of NLFA 16:0 with 30 nmol g⁻¹ in one of the limestone soils. Bacterial activity, but not soil phosphatase activity, was increased by around 25% in the presence of mycorrhizal hyphae in the first harvest of limestone soils. AM fungal hyphae can thus stimulate microorganisms. However, no effect of AM hyphae was observed on the soil pH or organic matter content in the limestone soils and the available P was not depleted.     

Influences of Cadmium and Zinc Interaction and Humic Acid on Metal Accumulation in Ceratophyllum Demersum

Interactions between Zn and Cd on the accumulation of these metals in coontail, Ceratophyllum demersum were studied at different metal concentrations. Plants were grown in nutrient solution containing Cd (0.05–0.25 mg l^?1) and Zn (0.5–5 mgl^?1). High concentrations of Zn caused a significant decrease in Cd accumulation. In general, adding Cd solution decreased Zn accumulation in C. demersum except at the lowest concentration of Zn in which the Zn accumulation was similar to that without Cd. C. demersum could accumulate high concentrations of both Cd and Zn. The influence of humic acid (HA) on Cd and Zn accumulation was also studied. HA had a significant effect on Zn accumulation in plants. 2 mg l^?1 of HA reduced Zn accumulation at 1 mg l^?1 level (from 2,167 to 803 mg kg^?1). Cd uptake by plant tissue, toxicity symptoms and accumulation at 0.25 and 0.5 mg l^?1, were reduced (from 515 to 154 mg kg^?1 and from 816 to 305 mg kg^?1, respectively) by addition of 2 mg l^?1 of HA. Cd uptake reached a maximum on day 9 of treatment, while that of Zn was observed on day 15. Long-term accumulation study revealed that HA reduced toxicity and accumulation of heavy metals.     

Bioavailability of heavy metals and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhiza in a soil polluted by atmospheric deposition from a smelter

The bioavailability of heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu) and the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) were studied in two agricultural fields close to a Pb-Zn smelter and three fields outside the pollution zone all cultivated with maize (Zea mays L.). Metal extractability with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-NH₄OAc and Ca(NO₃)₂, plant metal uptake, and mycorrhizal parameters (spore number, root colonization) were assessed at two growth stages (six-leaf and maturity). Despite regular liming, the availability of Cd, Zn, and Pb was markedly higher in the two metal-polluted fields than in the three uncontaminated fields. However, the AM abundance was not correlated with metal availability. Root colonization and spore numbers in the metal polluted fields were relatively high, though at plant maturity the former was significantly lower than in one of the uncontaminated fields. The very low AM abundance in the two other unpolluted fields was related to other factors, particular soil and plant P status and soil pH. AM root colonization did not substantially prevent plant metal accumulation, since the metal concentrations in maize grown on the polluted fields strongly exceeded normal values, and for Cd and Pb reached the limits of toxicity for animal feed.     

干旱与Cd双重胁迫对土壤-小麦-蚜虫系统Cd转移规律影响的研究

为探究干旱和重金属双重胁迫对土壤-小麦-蚜虫系统内Cd转移规律的影响,为小麦蚜虫的生态调节提供理论依据,本研究以麦长管蚜[Sitobionavenae(Fabricius)]为研究对象,用原子吸收分光光度法分别测定不同土壤Cd含量(100 mg?kg-1、200 mg?kg-1)及不同程度干旱胁迫(无胁迫、中度胁迫、重度胁迫)处理下小麦根茎叶及蚜虫体内的Cd含量。结果表明:土壤Cd含量及干旱单一胁迫均对小麦及蚜虫体内的Cd含量造成了显著影响(P0.05)。两者交互作用对小麦根部及叶部的Cd含量影响显著,而对小麦茎部及蚜虫体内Cd含量影响不显著。在相同胁迫条件下, Cd在小麦中的积累分布为根茎叶。随着干旱胁迫程度增大,小麦根部Cd含量及土壤-根转移系数降低,茎部Cd含量及根-茎转移系数升高,麦长管蚜Cd含量在土壤Cd含量100mg?kg-1下高于土壤Cd含量200 mg?kg-1;中度干旱胁迫增加了麦长管蚜体内Cd累积量,而重度干旱胁迫则降低了其体内Cd累积量。叶-蚜虫的Cd转移系数明显大于土壤-根、根-茎和茎-叶转移系数且大于1,说明Cd在麦长管蚜体内产生了生物富集作用。综上所述,干旱胁迫促进了Cd从土壤向小麦茎部转移和根部Cd累积,但抑制了Cd从根部到茎部转移和茎部Cd累积;中度干旱胁迫促进了麦长管蚜体内Cd的积累,而重度干旱胁迫抑制了麦长管蚜体内Cd的积累。     

Legume residue influence arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation and P uptake by wheat

Legumes have been shown to increase growth and P uptake of the following cereal. This could, in part, be due to nutrients released by the decomposing legume residues. To investigate the effect of P added with legume residues on wheat growth, P uptake and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation, a number of experiments were conducted with different legume residues added to a soil with low P availability under conditions in which N was not limiting. Young and mature faba bean shoots (FYS, FMS) and mature chickpea shoots (CP) were added to soil at different rates (0.5–2%, w/w) with the P concentration being the greatest in the young faba bean shoots and least in the mature chickpea residues. Other treatments included addition of inorganic P at different rates (0–80 mg P kg⁻¹). Available P, growth and P uptake and AM colonisation of wheat were measured after 6 weeks. As expected, inorganic P addition increased growth and P uptake but decreased AM colonisation. The effect of the residues was more complex. AM colonisation was not correlated with available P in the soil amended with residues, whereas there was significant negative correlation between available P and AM colonisation in the treatments with inorganic P. Addition of FYS increased wheat shoot growth and P uptake and decreased AM colonisation. However, FMS and CP addition not only decreased wheat growth and P uptake but also AM colonisation despite low soil P availability. It is concluded that addition of some legume residues can improve the growth of subsequent cereals, but others have a negative effect on wheat growth and AM colonisation which cannot be explained solely by soil P availability.     

关中灌区农业土壤重金属污染调查与评价

通过对关中宝鸡峡灌区、交口灌区、洛惠东灌区农业土壤样品的采集、监测,依据关中土重金属元素背景值和国家《土壤环境质量标准》(GB15618-1995)二级标准作为评价标准,重点分析评价了对土壤环境及人体危害较大的Cd、As、Cr、Pb等重金属元素的累积程度和污染程度。结果表明:以关中土重金属元素背景值为评价标准,关中灌区土重金属综合累积程度依次为交口灌区、宝鸡峡灌区、洛惠东灌区,土壤重金属累积程度具有PbAsCrCd的特征;关中灌区农业土壤重金属Pb累积程度普遍较高,主要是由于长期污水灌溉所致。以国家土壤环境质量二级标准为评价指标,关中灌区土重金属污染程度依次为宝鸡峡灌区、洛惠东灌区、交口灌区,土壤重金属污染程度具有AsCrCdPb的特征;关中灌区农业土壤重金属综合污染指数P均小于0.7,土壤样品单项污染指数Pi均小于0.7。因而,关中灌区农业土壤环境中的重金属元素含量现状适宜于无公害农产品和果品基地建设的要求。     

锰改性猪粪炭对水稻吸收累积土壤中汞镉的影响

为了探明KMnO4改性猪粪炭对水稻吸收累积复合污染土壤中汞镉的阻控效果，通过盆栽试验研究添加不同量的锰改性猪粪炭（MZC）对水稻中汞镉累积分布特征、根际土壤有效态汞镉含量和土壤理化性质的影响，并探讨了MZC阻控水稻籽粒吸收累积汞镉的可能机制。结果表明：与空白对照相比，添加0.5%MZC使水稻籽粒的总汞、甲基汞和总镉含量分别降低了50.4%、58.4%和79.3%，同时降低了31.1%和39.9%根际土壤有效态汞和镉的含量，但增加了70.3%根际土壤总Mn含量；且添加0.5%的原始猪粪炭对水稻籽粒中总汞、甲基汞和镉含量的降幅显著小于锰改性猪粪炭的，表明经过KMnO4改性可以显著增强猪粪炭对土壤汞镉的钝化能力。水稻籽粒、茎叶中的汞镉含量和根际土壤有效态汞镉含量都随着MZC添加量的增加呈明显的降低趋势。统计分析显示水稻籽粒和茎叶中的汞镉含量与根际土壤中有效态汞、镉呈显著正相关性，而土壤中有效态汞镉含量与土壤的pH、CEC呈负相关。添加MZC使土壤pH、CEC升高，降低了根际土壤中汞、镉的生物有效性，从而减少了水稻地上部分对汞镉的吸收累积。因此，锰改性猪粪炭是一种具有应用潜力的能保障汞镉复合污染农田水稻安全生产的土壤修复剂。     

Modelling the Fate of Chromated Copper Arsenate in a sandy Soil

Afforestation of former agricultural land changes soil characteristics such as pH and organic matter content, which may affect heavy metal solubility in the soil. In this study the effects of different tree species on heavy metal solubility were investigated at four 34 years old adjacent stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), grand fir (Abies grandis Lindl.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) planted on former agricultural land at four different sites in Denmark. The sites differ in soil characteristics and represent two texture classes (loamy sand and sandy loam). Soil pH and soil organic matter content was measured in the 16 stands and soil solution was isolated by centrifugation from three depths at four different occasions. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pH in the soil solution and the soil solution concentrations (availability) of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined. Analysis of variance showed that the tree species affects soil pH and organic matter content in the topsoil, but not in the lower horizons. Norway spruce and grand fir acidify more than beech and oak, and the highest amount of accumulated soil organic matter is in the topsoil under Norway spruce. The effects of tree species on soil solution pH and DOC resemble the effect on soil pH and organic matter content. Grand fir enhances the solubility of Cd and Zn in the topsoil with the lower solubility found under beech and oak and Norway spruce enhances the solubility of Cu, Ni and Pb in the top horizons. The lowest solubility of Ni and Pb is found under beech and oak, whereas the lowest Cu concentrations in the soil solution are found under grand fir. After 34 years of afforestation no effects of tree species on the concentrations of heavy metals in the soil solution from the C-horizons were found. The tree species effect on the concentration of Cd, Cu and Ni in the soil solution depends on the soil characteristics with the higher concentrations found in sandy loam soils, whereas no effect of site on the solution concentration was found for Pb and Zn. It was not possible to find a clear correlation between the soil solution concentrations of heavy metals, pH and DOC concentration.     

Response of Pinus Sylvestris Seedlings to Cadmium and Mycorrhizal Colonisation

Effects of Cd and mycorrhizal colonisation on seedling growth and Cd accumulation in Pinus sylvestris seedlings were studied. While colonisation by Suillus bovinus improved shoot growth, colonisation by Paxillus involutus had no effect on growth of seedlings. There was no Cd-ameliorating effect of colonisation in terms of either shoot or root growth. Colonisation by P. involutus did not decrease Cd transport from roots to shoots, whereas colonisation by S. bovinus significantly reduced the level of Cd in shoots in the 100 mg Cd kg^-1 treatment. The proportion of healthy mycorrhizal root tips of S. bovinus-inoculated seedlings was reduced as a result of Cd addition. However, no such effect was found in P. involutus-inoculated seedlings.     

Effects of multiple heavy metal contamination and repeated phytoextraction by Sedum plumbizincicola on soil microbial properties

The threat of heavy metal contamination to food and human health in south and east China has become a public concern as industrial development continues. The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of repeated phytoextraction over a two-year period by successive crops of the Zn and Cd hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola on multiple metal contaminated soils and to assess recovery of soil quality. Total and NH₄OAc-extractable Zn and Cd concentrations were significantly reduced in planted soils compared to unplanted soils. Microbial biomass C (C_mic), basal respiration and microbial quotient (qM) were significantly and positively correlated and soil metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was negatively correlated with heavy metal concentrations in unplanted soils (P < 0.05). However, C_mic, basal respiration and qM values increased significantly after phytoremediation by five crops over two years compared to unplanted soil. Urease, β-glucosidase, neutral phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities also increased significantly with decreasing heavy metal contents and hydrolase activity was enhanced in planted soil (P < 0.05) compared to the unplanted control. The data indicate the capacity of S. plumbizincicola to extract Zn and Cd from contaminated soil and also that phytoremediation had beneficial effects on soil microbial and hydrolase activities, with the metal phytoextraction procedure restoring soil quality.     

Effects of soil properties and cultivar on cadmium accumulation in wheat grain

Cd accumulation in the grain of wheat cultivars grown on soils at seven experimental sites in the Austrian wheat zone was significantly affected by soil chemical characteristics and by cultivar. Multiple linear regression analyses indicate that about 80% of the variation in Cd accumulation may be explained by cultivar. total soil Cd, and organic carbon (OC). An additional 10% of the variation was correlated with Cl^? and Ca²⁺ in the soil solution. Uptake of Cd increased with higher soil Cd content and higher Cl^? concentrations in soil solution, but decreased at higher levels of OC and soluble Ca. Cd accumulation varied by a factor of up to 2.5 among cultivars. The highest Cd accumulation was found in some spring durum cultivars in soils containing relatively low total Cd (< 0.4 mg kg^?1); at some sites the maximum permissible Cd concentrations in wheat grain (0.1 mg kg^?1) was exceeded according to German regulations. Selecting low Cd-accumulating cultivars and adjusting soil chemical conditions may provide alternatives to reduce Cd intake in human diet.     

Vermicomposts and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation in Relation to Metal Availability and Biochemical Quality of a Soil Contaminated with Heavy Metals

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate how the addition of two vermicomposts (commercial or produced from damaged greenhouse tomatoes) and/or inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi affected availability and extractability of P, K and trace metals and biochemical quality of a soil contaminated with heavy metals. The pots were planted with Trifolium repens L., which was harvested 40?days after germination. Shoot and root dry matter of T. repens increased by the addition of both vermicomposts. P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn uptake by T. repens increased after vermicompost addition, whereas Ni, Pb and Cd concentrations were below the detection limit of the method used. After harvest, AB-DTPA-extractable Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb decreased in the organically amended soil, whereas AB-DTPA P, K and Mn increased. The addition of both vermicomposts, particularly which made from damaged tomatoes, boosted dehydrogenase, ??-glucosidase and urease activities in the postharvest soil, implying a higher microbial functional diversity and biochemical quality in this amended soil. Although phosphatase activities were greater in the postharvest soils with higher AB-DTPA-extractable metals, the other enzyme activities were negatively affected. The inoculation of the soils with AM fungi had weak effects on plant growth, as well as on the availability and extractability of metals and enzyme activities compared to non-inoculation.     

Effect of Anions in Simulated Precipitation on the Uptake of Heavy Metals and Aluminum by Brassica Rapa L. Grown in Heavy -Metal -Contaminated Sandy Soil

This study investigated the effect of anions on the uptake of heavy metals and aluminum by Brassica rapa L. from non-contaminated, Cd-contaminated, and sewage sludge compost (SSC)-amended sandy soil. Four types of artificial precipitation were applied: deionized water (pH 5.7) as a control, and solutions of HNO₃, H₂SO₄, and HCl prepared to pH 4.5. Precipitation was applied daily during the last 20 d of cultivation. The pH of the Cd-treated soil after harvest was not affected by any precipitation treatment. Shoot concentrations of heavy metals and Al were unaffected by any treatments on non-contaminated soil. In contrast, all acid treatments increased the Cd concentration in shoots grown on Cd-contaminated soil, but only HNO₃ precipitation increased it in SSC-amended soil. These results indicate, even without large soil pH change, there is a possibility that the Cd uptake by B. rapa L. depends on anions in precipitation and chemical form of Cd in the soil under conditions of heavy metal enrichment.     

The influence of compost addition on heavy metal distribution between operationally defined geochemical fractions and on metal accumulation in plant

Purpose

Metal distribution patterns among geochemical fractions are informative for metal phytoavailability. Compost added to polluted soils may adsorb metals on the less phytoavailable fractions. A bioassay experiment was conducted to establish possible correlations between metal concentrations in different soil fractions and metal contents in edible plant parts and to investigate the influence of different compost loads on heavy metal availability to plants.

Materials and methods

Chinese cabbage plants were grown in pots with sandy and clayey soils and soils mixed with different doses of biosolid compost spiked with soluble heavy metal salts (Cd, Cu, and Pb). The metals’ distribution pattern in the soil and mixed samples was determined by sequential extraction procedure (modified BCR protocol). The studied fractions, from most to least bioavailable, were water-extractable (WE), exchangeable-adsorbed (EXC), associated with carbonates and acetic acid-soluble forms (CARB), occluded by reducible (hydro)oxides of Fe and Mn (RO), and associated with organic matter (OM) and a residual fraction (RES). Metal concentrations in soil extracts and in the digested plant tissue were measured by ICP-AES.

Results and discussion

The highest compost doses (72 and 115 Mg ha^?1) enhanced cabbage yield significantly. No excessive phytoaccumulation of metals was observed in plants grown in the clayey soil or its mixtures with compost. The compost dose of 72 Mg ha^?1 was optimal in decreasing Cu accumulation by plants grown in sandy soil, and 28.8 Mg ha^?1 was found to be effective in reducing Cd and Pb uptake. Metals were accumulated in plants primarily from the WE, EXC, and CARB fractions, whereas other fractions decreased phytoaccumulation. Compost addition suppressed heavy metal mobility, but different fractions were active in pollutant sorption, depending on soil type and metal.

Conclusions

Compost addition increased metal proportions in the RO and OM fractions, reducing metal phytoavailability. This is especially important for sandy soils with low adsorption ability and higher vulnerability to metal pollution than clayey soils. A compost dose of 20% v/v (or 28.8 Mg ha^?1) effectively reduced plant accumulation of Cd and Pb. We propose using the first three steps of the modified BCR protocol as a three-step sequential-extraction procedure for the most phytoavailable fractions of heavy metal: WE, EXC, and CARB.