Inter-relationships between soil properties and the uptake of cadmium,copper, lead and zinc from contaminated soils by radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Radish was grown in 46 garden plots in England and Wales. Some of the gardens had been contaminated by heavy metals from lead mining. The soils were analysed for pH, organic content and cation exchange capacity; also for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn (total, organic bound, exchangeable and specifically sorbed). Acetic acid-soluble P and exchangeable K, Mg and Zn were also determined. Radish bulbs and leaves were analysed for heavy metals. The results were interpreted using linear and multiple linear correlation and regression analysis. Acetic acid satisfactorily predicted Cd uptake and Pb uptake was best predicted by total soil Pb. These regressions were not improved by including other soil properties. Zinc uptake was best modeled using exchangeable Zn and the predictive power of the regression was improved by including pH. However, the pH term was positive suggesting that raising soil pH would increase uptake. A poor relationship between total and exchangeable Zn was changed to a highly significant relationship by including cation exchange capacity and pH. The latter term was strongly negative. Uptake of Cu was not satisfactorily predicted.