The effect of agricultural waste inhibit the uptake of Cadmium (Cd) by pak choi in assumption conditions of contaminated soil

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effects of agricultural waste (rice straw-RS and maize stalks-MS) in reducing Cd toxicity. Experiments in the study determined: growth of pak choi, total Cd concentration in the plant and the change in distribution of Cd fraction in the soil. Results showed that: agricultural waste application may detoxify Cd at excessive concentrations (3 and 6 mg/kg) by transforming mobile Cd fractions (EXC-Cd and CAB-Cd) into semi-mobile and non-mobile Cd fractions (FEM-Cd, OM-Cd, and RES-Cd); the Cd concentrations in pak choi decreased and pak choi growth increased. However, a significant reduction in Cd concentration can only occur when agricultural waste application is at an appropriate content (20 g/kg). In addition, agricultural waste application promoted the growth of pak choi at lower content (10 g/kg). Furthermore, this study also showed a good correlation between the ratio of mobile Cd fractions (EXC-Cd and CAB-Cd) with Cd concentration in pak choi and plant growth. This study suggested that agricultural waste application, especially rice straw, plays an important role in preventing Cd uptake by plant tissues at excessive concentrations through transformations into immobile Cd fractions.