Cadmium fractions in an acid sandy soil and Cd in soil solution as affected by plant growth

In a previous experiment, plants were able to immobilize or solubilize Cadmium (Cd) in a sandy acid soil enriched with 40 μmol Cd kg^–1, because Cd solution concentration was decreased by maize (Zea mays) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and increased by flax (Linum usitatissimum L. ssp. usitatissimum) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea). It is assumed that the equilibrium with Cd fractions in the soil solid phase and the chemical form of Cd in the soil solution were affected. In the present study, the effect of the four plant species mentioned above on Cd binding in soil was investigated by means of a fractionation of soil Cd with a sequential extraction of seven steps. The seven fractions of Cd are operationally defined by the extraction sequence that follows the order of increasing acidity with extractants of different complexing and redox properties. In the unplanted soil, Cd was predominantly present in the exchangeable Fraction I (F. I) and easily mobilizable Fraction II (F. II) (64%). Significant concentrations of Cd were found in F. III (occluded in Mn oxides; 22%) and F. IV (organically bound; 10%). Fractions V (occluded in poorly crystalline Fe oxides), F. VI (occluded in well crystallized Fe oxides), and F. VII (residual fraction) amounted to less than 5% of the total soil Cd concentration. The plants changed the binding of Cd in soil in a different manner. All plants decreased F. I, but F. II was increased by maize and spinach, decreased by flax or remained unaffected by sunflower. Fraction III was not affected by maize and flax, but decreased by sunflower and spinach, and F. IV was not affected by sunflower and spinach, but was increased by maize and flax. These changes of Cd fractions were not related to the changes the plants had caused in total Cd or Cd²⁺ concentration of the soil solution. These results show that plant species differ in how they affect Cd binding to the soil solid phase, but this effect is not related to how they affect Cd in soil solution. The mechanisms by which plants affect the relationship between the soil solid and liquid phase are still unclear.     

Selection of cultivars to reduce the concentration of cadmium and thallium in food and fodder plants

Pot and field experiments were carried out from 1994 to 1997 to investigate Cd and Tl uptake by various genotypes of maize, spring rape and kale on soils contaminated with i) Cd by the addition of river sediments (aqua regia-extractable Cd: 24 mg kg^—1 soil) and ii) with Tl by deposits from a cement plant (HNO₃-extractable Tl:1.4 mg kg^—1 soil). In field experiments on the Cd-contaminated soil, Cd concentrations in shoots and kernels of fifty maize inbred lines differed by a factor of about twenty (from < 1 to 15 mg Cd kg^—1 DM in shoots and from 0.02 to 0.5 mg Cd kg^—1 DM in kernels). After crossing inbred lines having high and low Cd concentration, Cd concentration of the resulting hybrids decreased, mainly as a result of a higher dry matter production (a dilution effect). In pot and field experiments on the Tl-contaminated soil, the selected cultivars of spring rape showed only small differences in Tl uptake, whereas Tl concentration in shoots of the kale cultivars differed more than twenty-fold (in the pot experiment from < 1 to 24 mg Tl kg^—1 DM and in the field experiment from 0.5 to 11.7 mg Tl kg^—1 shoot DM). Two groups of cultivars with low and high Tl concentrations could be distinguished. A nutrient solution experiment with radioactively labeled Tl showed that higher Tl concentration of kale in comparison to white cabbage can be attributed mainly to a higher uptake rate in kale (about 30-fold) with subsequent root-to-shoot translocation. The results show that, depending on plant species, selection and growing of cultivars with low heavy metal uptake on contaminated soils can substantially contribute to reduce the concentration of Cd and Tl in food and fodder plants.     

Chemical forms of cadmium in a calcareous soil treated with different levels of phosphorus and cadmium and planted to spinach

The objective of the investigation was to evaluate the effect of applied phosphorus (P) and cadmium (Cd) on Cd chemical forms determined by sequential extraction and the relationship between these forms and plant responses, i.e., dry weights, concentration, and total uptake of Cd and P in a greenhouse experiment. Treatments consisted of five levels of Cd (5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg kg^?1 soil as cadmium sulfate) and four levels of P (0, 15, 30 and 60 mg kg^?1 soil as monocalcium phosphate), which were added to the soil and left to equilibrate for 1 month under greenhouse conditions. Spinach seeds (Spinacea oleracea L., cv Viroflay) were sown and then grown for 8 weeks. The chemical composition in the aerial part of the pant and soil was determined. Application of Cd decreased plant dry matter and increased Cd concentration in the plant, whereas at each level of applied Cd, P increased plant dry matter and decreased plant Cd concentration. All chemical forms of Cd in soil, as determined by a fractionation method, were increased following Cd application, the highest being the carbonatic form. Phosphorous application decreased exchangeable and carbonatic forms of Cd, whereas it increased other forms.     

Influence of phosphorus application on growth and cadmium uptake of spinach in two cadmium‐contaminated soils

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of phosphate (P) application on diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable cadmium (Cd) in soil and on growth and uptake of Cd by spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Two soils varying in texture were contaminated by application of five levels of Cd (NO₃)₂ (0, 20, 30, 40, and 60 mg Cd kg^–1). Three levels of KH₂PO₄ (0, 12, and 24 mg P kg^–1) were applied to determine immobilization of Cd by P. Spinach was grown for 60 d after seeding. Progressive contamination of soils through application of Cd affected dry‐matter yield (DMY) of spinach shoot differently in the two soils, with 67% reduction of DMY in the sandy soil and 34% in the silty‐loam soil. The application of P increased DMY of spinach from 4.53 to 6.06 g pot^–1 (34%) in silty‐loam soil and from 3.54 to 5.12 g pot^–1 (45%) in sandy soil. The contamination of soils increased Cd concentration in spinach shoots by 34 times in the sandy soil and 18 times in the silty‐loam soil. The application of P decreased Cd concentration in shoot. The decrease of Cd concentration was higher in the sandy soil in comparison to the silty‐loam soil. Phosphorus application enhanced DMY of spinach by decreasing Cd concentration in soil as well as in plants. The results indicate that Cd toxicity in soil can be alleviated by P application.     

Effects of cadmium on growth parameters of endophyte‐infected endophyte‐free ryegrass

A greenhouse hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of cadmium (Cd) on growth parameters of endophyte‐infected (EI) and endophyte‐free (EF) perennial ryegrass. The results showed that Cd stress (0.18 mM Cd) affected all measured plant parameters, regardless of whether they were endophyte‐infected or endophyte‐free. Endophyte infection enhanced tillering ability and reduced leaf elongation under conditions of Cd stress. Endophyte infection tended to reduce leaf and leaf‐sheath biomass of control plants (0 Cd), but tended to alleviate the detrimental effects of Cd regarding shoot biomass. As far as net–photosynthetic rate and maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm ratio) were concerned, no difference was observed between EI and EF leaves. Like other grasses, perennial ryegrass can accumulate Cd, and Cd concentrations in different organs were in the following order: root > sheath > leaf. Endophyte‐infected ryegrass accumulated more Cd than EF ryegrass, especially in the shoots.     

Root–shoot communication of field‐grown maize drought‐stressed at different rates as modified by atmospheric conditions

Maize is often grown in drought‐prone environments and, thus, drought resistance is an important trait. In order to minimize production losses, plants need to respond and adapt early and fast to moisture loss in the root zone. From experiments under controlled conditions, constituents of the xylem sap, such as the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), or xylem pH have long been recognized to act as signals in root–shoot communication. To investigate early signals of field‐grown maize under conditions of progressive drought, a field trial was set up in a field lysimeter for two consecutive years. Although the experimental set‐up was very similar in the two years, plant responses to moisture loss were significantly different in both, the cascade of events and the intensity of responses. The main difference between the two years was in atmospheric vapor‐pressure deficit (VPD), accelerating the drying rate of the soil in the second year. In contrast to observations during the first year, the sudden increase in VPD in the second year caused a strong, transient peak in xylem sap ABA concentration, but no change in xylem pH or leaf ABA concentration was observed. Whereas the water relations of the maize plants remained stable in the first year, they were severely unbalanced in the second. It is argued that the strong xylem‐ABA signal triggered a change from adaptation mechanisms to survival mechanisms. Modulations due to VPD of constituents of the signal cascade induced by drought are discussed with regard to possible resistance strategies, their initiation, and their modification by combining primary environmental signals.     

Effects of early mycorrhization and colonized root length on low‐soil‐phosphorus resistance of West African pearl millet

Phosphorus (P) deficiency at early seedling stages is a critical determinant for survival and final yield of pearl millet in multi‐stress Sahelian environments. Longer roots and colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance P uptake and crop performance of millet. Assessing the genotypic variation of early mycorrhization and its effect on plant growth is necessary to better understand mechanisms of resistance to low soil P and to use them in breeding strategies for low P. Therefore, in this study, eight pearl millet varieties contrasting in low‐P resistance were grown in pots under low P (no additional P supply) and high P (+ 0.4 g P pot^?1) conditions, and harvested 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after sowing (WAS). Root length was calculated 2 WAS by scanning of dissected roots and evaluation with WinRhizo software. AM infection (%) and P uptake (shoot P concentration multiplied per shoot dry matter) were measured at each harvest. Across harvests under low P (3.3 mg Bray P kg^?1), resistant genotypes had greater total root length infected with AMF (837 m), higher percentage of AMF colonization (11.6%), and increased P uptake (69.4 mg P plant^?1) than sensitive genotypes (177 m, 7.1% colonization and 46.4 mg P plant^?1, respectively). Two WAS, resistant genotypes were infected almost twice as much as sensitive ones (4.1% and 2.1%) and the individual resistant genotypes differed in the percentage of AMF infection. AMF colonization was positively related to final dry matter production in pots, which corresponded to field performance. Early mycorrhization enhanced P uptake in pearl millet grown under P‐deficient conditions, with the genotypic variation for this parameter allowing selection for better performance under field conditions.     

不同状态绿豆根边缘细胞对Cd2+的响应

以绿豆(Phaseolus radiatus)为材料,采用琼脂悬空培养法和培养皿滤纸培养法,以不同浓度的Cd2+处理洗脱根边缘细胞和未洗脱根边缘细胞的绿豆根尖,研究了离体状态和活体状态绿豆根边缘细胞对镉毒的响应.结果表明:在Cd2+的诱导下,离体状态的绿豆根边缘细胞凋亡和分泌黏液,同时随着Cd2+浓度的升高,其存活率逐渐递减;Cd2+具有诱导根尖产生根边缘细胞的作用,根尖释放的根边缘细胞数量随着Cd2+浓度的增加先增多后减少,其中,50 μmol L-1 Cd2+处理在洗脱组和未洗脱组均呈现最大诱导效应;Cd2+对根边缘细胞的活性具有影响,随着Cd2+浓度的增加,根边缘细胞的存活率在未洗脱组逐渐降低,而洗脱组则先升高后降低.与对照相比,25 μmol L-1,200 μmol L-1,400 μmol L-1 Cd2+在各处理时间段具有显著性差异(p＜0.05);根冠果胶甲基酯酶活性(PME)随着Cd2+浓度的增加呈现上升趋势,处理24 h高浓度Cd2+均会引起根冠PME活性的显著性升高(p＜0.05).以上结果表明,受到Cd2+胁迫时,绿豆根尖可释放更多根边缘细胞,并通过离体根边缘细胞形成黏液层、凋亡等来抵御Cd2+对根尖的毒害作用.     

植物汁液化学组成及其与菜心抗性和Cd累积的关系

Sap mixtures of the xylem, phloem, and vacuoles from low and high Cd accumulator varieties of Brassica parachinensis L. H. Bailey were analyzed under Cd stress to understand the biochemical mechanisms of Cd accumulation in plants. Low Cd accumulator （‘Teqing-60＇） and high Cd accumulator （‘Chixin-2＇） plants were grown in Cd-treated soil in pots in a greenhouse. Percentage of cell wall-bound Cd was estimated, pH level and the concentrations of amino acids, organic acids, anions, and cations in both stem and root saps were determined for the calculation of Cd speciations using the computer program GEOCHEM. The results showed that ‘Teqing-60＇ had a significantly higher （P ≤ 0.05） percentage of Cd bound to cell walls in roots and a significantly higher （P ≤ 0.05） pH in the root sap. ‘Teqing-60＇ also contained a higher concentration of total amino acids in both roots and stems compared with the high Cd accumulator variety ‘Chixin- 2＇. However, between the two accumulators, for stems and for roots, there were no significant differences in non-amino organic acids. GEOCHEM calculations showed that Cd in the root sap of ‘Teqing-60＇ mainly combined with amino acids, especially alanine. Compared with ‘Chixin-2＇, in the root sap of ‘Teqing-60＇, much lower levels of Cd as free ions or bound to simple ligands were found, indicating that less ‘Teqing-60＇ is transferred to stems and leaves. Cadmium activity in the shoot sap of ‘Teqing-60＇ was much lower than that in ‘Chixin-2＇; therefore, ‘Teqing-60＇ exhibited higher Cd resistance. However, direct determination of the Cd complexes from xylem and phloem sap is needed to verify these results.     

Short‐term transport of cadmium during a heavy‐rain event simulated by a dual‐continuum approach

The transport of solutes in soils, and its intensification due to preferential flow, plays crucial role when problems related to the groundwater pollution are dealt with. The objective of this study was to examine transport of cadmium (Cd) in response to an extreme rainfall event for three different soils using numerical modeling. The ^115mCd²⁺ concentration profile had been measured in the Bodiky reference site (Danubian Lowland, Slovakia) by the radioactive‐tracer technique and used for the calibration of the dual‐continuum model S1D. The Cd transport during a single rain event was predicted with the S1D model for light, medium‐heavy, and heavy soil in the same region. The Cd transport through the soil profile was simulated by the one‐dimensional dual‐permeability model, which assumes the existence of two pore domains: the soil‐matrix domain and the preferential‐flow domain. The model is based on Richards' equation for water flow and advection‐dispersion equation for solute transport. A modified batch technique enables to distinguish process of adsorption in the matrix domain and the preferential pathways. Modeling with classical single‐permeability approach and dual‐continuum approach without considering the particle‐facilitated transport led to negligible Cd penetration. The rainfall event with extremely high rainfall intensity induced deep penetration of Cd in the medium‐heavy and heavy soil, which may indicate increased vulnerability to shallow groundwater pollution for the respective sites in Danubian Lowland region. The highest Cd leaching was predicted for heavy clay soil, where the preferential particle‐facilitated transport of Cd through the soil profile was significant due to the contrasting properties of the soil‐matrix domain and the preferential‐flow domain. The results of the sensitivity analysis suggested only slight effect of the transfer rate coefficients on simulated Cd leaching.     

Initial adhesion of Bacillus subtilis on soil minerals as related to their surface properties

The initial adhesion of micro‐organisms on solid surfaces strongly affects their transport and fate in soil and aquatic environments. Experiments on Bacillus subtilis with various soil minerals (including kaolinite, montmorillonite, goethite, birnessite, quartz and mica) were conducted to determine the role of surface properties in adhesion and to test the validity of the extended Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO) theory for bacterial adhesion. Adhesion of B. subtilis on all six minerals conformed to the Langmuir equation. Adhesion capacity and affinity showed a significant correlation with the specific external surface area (SESA) of the minerals and the calculated electrostatic energy barrier, respectively, but no significant correlation was observed between hydrophobicity and the adhesion parameters. These results demonstrate that adhesion capacity and affinity are primarily controlled by the SESA of the minerals and the surface electrical properties, respectively. The dependence of the adhesion capacity on SESA may be explained by the cell–mineral interaction model. Adhesion could be well predicted by the extended DLVO theory. The initial adhesion of bacteria with soil minerals can be evaluated by using independently measured surface properties of these components based on the extended DLVO theory combined with the Langmuir equation.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of water‐soluble root exudates in relation to plant species and development

The composition of root‐derived substances is of great importance for the understanding of processes in the rhizosphere. Therefore, methods allowing a comprehensive collection and chemical analysis of the organic root exudates are necessary. In this study, we compare different methods with regard to their suitability to collect and characterize root exudates. Because the percolation or water logging method failed to quantitatively extract root exudates, a dipping method was developed which allowed an almost complete sampling of coldwater‐soluble root exudates. By ¹⁴CO₂ labeling of the shoots the composition of root exudates was found to be influenced by plant species and growth stage. In comparison to pea plants maize plants had a higher share of carboxylic acids and a lower share of sugars. Younger maize plants exuded considerably higher amounts of ¹⁴C labeled organic substances per g root dry matter than older ones. During plant development the relative amount of sugars decreased at the expense of carboxylic acids. The described methods are well suited for the elucidation of the influence of growth factors on root exudation.     

Effect of bone chars on phosphorus‐cadmium‐interactions as evaluated by three extraction procedures

Foreseen P shortage and contamination problems have stimulated the search for renewable and contaminant‐free P‐fertilizers and amendments that immobilize Cd. We investigated the P‐dissolution and Cd‐immobilizing effect of bone char (pyrolyzed de‐fatted bone chips; BC) and bone char with added reduced S compounds (BC^plus). Five soils varying in pH and low to high Cd‐contamination were incubated with slow‐release P‐fertilizers (BC and BC^plus) and the fast P‐release diammonium phosphate (DAP), and extracted with NH₄NO₃‐, NaHCO₃‐solutions, and H₂O. The P‐concentrations obtained by the three extractants were well correlated and NH₄NO₃ well suited to simultaneously assess the P‐ and Cd‐solubility. The addition of BC increased pH in all soils whereas BC^plus and DAP lowered the pH in soils with pH > 5. Similar trends for NH₄NO₃‐P differences between treatments and control were observed for BC and BC^plus during the incubation period, although BC^plus resulted in much larger P‐concentrations. The highest Cd‐immobilization efficiency was obtained in BC‐treated soils. The addition of BC^plus and DAP decreased the Cd‐concentrations until 34 d of incubation in all soils and remained effective in Cd‐immobilizing in soils that showed a pH raise over 145 d of incubation. Thus, the results indicate that surface modification of BC may promote the P‐dissolution along with a concomitant Cd‐immobilization largely through its pH‐effect but this must be confirmed in studies under non‐equilibrium conditions.     

Ability of various water‐insoluble fertilizers to supply available phosphorus in hydroponics to plant species with diverse phosphorus‐acquisition efficiency: Involvement of organic acid accumulation in plant tissues and root exudates

Previous studies describe the suitability of a new type of phosphorus (P) fertilizer, called “rhizosphere‐controlled fertilizer” (RCF), to supply available P to plants while reducing soil phosphorus fixation. In order to explore the involvement of organic acid root exudation in P uptake from RCF, we investigated the relationship between shoot and root P concentrations, and the concentration of the main polycarboxylic organic acids in roots, shoots, and plant exudates. Plant species with different P‐acquisition efficiency (low: maize; medium: chickpea; high: lupin) were grown in hydroponics with three different P fertilizers: The water‐insoluble P fraction of RCF (RCF); Phospal, a slow‐release source of phosphate composed of calcium and aluminum phosphates (PH); monopotassiumphosphate (KP), and a control treatment without P (P–). RCF was as efficient as KP in supplying P to plants in the case of chickpea and lupin, and slightly less efficient than KP in maize. However, P from PH was not available for maize and less available compared to KP and RCF in chickpea and lupin. This variation reflects the different efficiencies in P acquisition for the three plant species. Except in the case of maize, plants receiving KP presented the lowest concentration of organic acids in roots and exudates, while those plants suffering severe P deficiency (P– and PH) showed the highest organic acid concentration. However, RCF had a high concentration of organic acids in roots and exudates, as well as a high P concentration in the shoot indicating that P uptake from RCF is enhanced due to root release and action of specific organic acids.     

Applicability of ground‐penetrating radar as a tool for nondestructive soil‐depth mapping on Pleistocene periglacial slope deposits

Soil depth plays a decisive role in determining soil properties in mountainous regions for ecological site assessment. To evaluate the use of ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) for fast and high‐resolution mapping within mountainous regions, we examined the possibilities and limitations of GPR to determine soil depth over bedrock and to delineate individual substrate layers formed during the Pleistocene in a periglacial environment (Pleistocene periglacial slope deposits, PPSD). Selected catenae in representative subregions of the study area (Dill catchment, SE Rhenish Massif, Germany) have been successfully mapped using GPR. A practicable method was developed using a 400 MHz antenna to reach a mean penetration depth of 1.5 m and to map different substrates and layers of PPSD based on calibrations of the GPR at soil pits along 12 catenae. Colluvium, the three types of PPSD layers, as well as the in situ bedrock could be distinguished in most sections of the GPR surveys. Characteristic GPR facies caused by intrinsic material properties of the different substrates, such as stone content and soil moisture content, could be distinguished in different geomorphologic and lithological settings. A layer‐based velocity distribution was determined for characteristic substrate layers at soil pits enabling us to considerably enhance the accuracy of soil‐depth prediction. Compared to traditionally surveyed soil profiles, our results demonstrate an accuracy of layer thickness surveying within a standard deviation of approx. 0.1 m. It is demonstrated that the combination of GPR with conventional soil‐pit mapping is an efficient and valid method to produce high‐resolution data of substrate distribution.     

Use of reactive phosphate rocks as fertilizer on acid upland soils in Indonesia: accumulation of cadmium and zinc in soils and shoots of maize plants

A pot experiment was conducted to study the contribution of reactive phosphate rocks (RPRs) on the accumulation of Cd and Zn in 10 acid upland soils in Indonesia and shoots of Zea mays plants grown on these soils. Two types of RPR were used at a rate of 0.5 g (kg soil)^–1: RPRL containing 4 mg Cd kg^–1 and 224 mg Zn kg^–1, and RPRH containing 69 mg Cd kg^–1 and 745 mg Zn kg^–1. Zea mays was harvested at 6 weeks after planting. The application of RPRH significantly increased the concentrations of Cd in the shoots. The application of this RPR also increased the amount of Cd which could be extracted by 0.5 M NH₄‐acetate + 0.02 M EDTA pH 4.65 from the soils. More than 90% of the added Cd remained in the soil. As Zn is an essential element and the studied acid upland soils are Zn‐deficient, increased plant growth upon RPR application might be partly attributed to Zn present in the phosphate rock. However, more experiments are needed to confirm this hypothesis. The Cd and Zn concentrations and CEC of the soils were important soil factors influencing the concentrations of Cd and Zn in the shoots of maize plants grown on these soils.     

Immobilization of heavy metals in soils amended by nanoparticulate zeolitic tuff: Sorption‐desorption of cadmium

Immobilization of Cd in contaminated soil is a technique to improve soil quality. Zeolites are potentially useful additives to bind heavy metals. This study examines the influence of decreasing the grain size of raw zeolitic tuff to the nano‐range on Cd sorption‐desorption isotherms in a sandy soil. The aim was to evaluate the feasibility of using nanoparticulate zeolitic tuff as a sequestering agent for Cd in soil. Sorption and desorption of Cd on zeolitic nanotuff was investigated in batch experiments. The sandy soil was amended with zeolitic nanotuff, synthetic Al oxide nanoparticles, or raw zeolitic tuff. After a 48 h sorption step, three desorption steps were induced using the sequential dilution method. The measured sorption‐desorption data were adequately described by the Freundlich equation. A nonlinear two‐stage one‐rate model matched well with measured Cd sorption‐desorption isotherms of zeolitic nanotuff, raw zeolitic tuff, Al oxide nanoparticle, and control soil. The batch experiments demonstrated the strong influence of pH on Cd sorption. Zeta‐potential measurements of zeolitic nanotuff indicated that electrostatic interaction was important for sorption. Soil amended with zeolitic nanotuff showed the lowest hysteresis index based on the differences obtained from sorption‐desorption isotherms regarding the amount of Cd sorbed. The index decreased with increasing metal concentration. For soil amended with nanoparticulate zeolitic tuff, the estimated Freundlich coefficient was 4 orders of magnitude higher than in the control soil and 2 orders of magnitude higher than the soil amended with raw zeolitic tuff. In addition, this sorbent decreased the amount of Cd released after three desorption steps by up to 12 and 7 times compared to the control soil and the soil amended with raw zeolitic tuff, respectively. The effect on Cd sorption of grinding the raw zeolitic tuff to the nanorange was considerably more pronounced than the effect of raw zeolitic tuff.