Abstract
PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of soil amendments and foliar fertilizer on Cd and Pb immobilization in contaminated soils.Materials and methodsA field experiment was conducted in contaminated soils, wherein four amendments (sepiolite (SE), single superphosphate (SSP), triple super phosphate (TSP), calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP)) in combination with one foliar fertilizer (ZnSO4) were investigated to reduce Cd and Pb bioavailability in calcareous soils. Total Cd and Pb concentrations in wheat, soil, and amendments were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Available concentrations of Cd and Pb in soils were extracted using diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid.Results and discussionThe results indicated that application of these amendments and foliar fertilizer significantly decreased Cd availability in soils and Cd accumulation in wheat (P < 0.05); however, the soil amendments plus Zn fertilizer did not significantly decrease Cd and Pb concentrations in wheat. Compared with the control, application of soil amendments effectively reduced the available Cd and Pb in soils by 25.69~54.13% and 9.86~42.14%, respectively. Accordingly, the reduction of Cd and Pb concentrations in wheat grain by the soil amendments was 20.68~41.38% and 23.68~55.26%, respectively.ConclusionsAmong all the treatments, the addition of SE + SSP and SE + CMP exhibited the most efficiency in reducing Cd and Pb availability, respectively, in the soil.
Highlights
Increasing anthropogenic activities, such as mining, smelting, irrigation using waste water, application of sewage sludge, and atmospheric deposition, have caused severe heavy metal contamination around the world (Wong et al 2002)
The results indicated that application of these amendments and foliar fertilizer significantly decreased Cd availability in soils and Cd accumulation in wheat (P < 0.05); the soil amendments plus Zn fertilizer did not significantly decrease Cd and Pb concentrations in wheat
Among all the treatments, the addition of SE + SSP and SE + calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP) exhibited the most efficiency in reducing Cd and Pb availability, respectively, in the soil
Summary
Increasing anthropogenic activities, such as mining, smelting, irrigation using waste water, application of sewage sludge, and atmospheric deposition, have caused severe heavy metal contamination around the world (Wong et al 2002). Accumulation of heavy metals in soils and subsequently in the food chain is a potential threat to human health (Foucault et al 2013). Different remediation techniques have been developed to reduce total or bioavailable concentrations of heavy metals in soils and minimize their accumulation in the food chain (Shahid et al 2012; Clemente et al 2012). Practical application of these remediation techniques to arable soils is seriously limited, especially in China where low or moderate levels of heavy metal contamination are widespread and there is an increasing demand for food safety. In situ metal immobilization using soil amendments has been promoted as a rapid, cost-effective, and low disruption technique (Keller et al 2005; Lee et al 2009).
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