Effect of soil phosphorus fertility level on the uptake of cadmium by maize

Abstract

The effect of soil P fertility on the accumulation of cadmium from soil by four week old maize shoots was investigated. The addition of phosphate to a P-deficient soil stimulated plant growth more than it increased total plant Cd content, thereby reducing the concentration of Cd in the maize shoots. The failure of increased soil P to reduce the total amount of Cd in the plants suggests that P fertilisation is not a generally effective method of reducing Cd contamination of maize products, although desirable reductions in Cd concentration may be achieved when fertilisation markedly stimulates plant growth.