Relations between soil properties and selected heavy metal concentrations in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in contaminated soils

Abstract

Spring wheat was grown in soils near a non-ferrous metals mining and smelting base in Baiyin city, Gansu province, P.R. China. The area studied is 501 km2. Some of the croplandshad been contaminated by heavy metals mainly through wastewaterirrigation or aerial deposition. The soil samples were analyzedfor pH, organic matter and available phosphorous (P); also fortotal cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) contents. Spring wheat grains were also analyzed for heavy metals. The results were interpreted using multiple linear correlation and stepwise regression analyses. The increment oftotal soil contents of selected heavy metals could enhance grain Cd accumulation, and the increment of total Zn content of soil could lower the grain Pb accumulation. The correlationswere markedly increased by including other soil properties forgrain Cd and Pb. Stepwise regression analyses indicated that the effect of soil pH and available P on the uptake of grain Cd were greater than that of the other total soil contents ofheavy metals. Grain Cd and Pb could be reliably predicted bythe total soil contents of Cd and Pb while the uptake of grainZn and Cu were not satisfactorily predicted.