Remediation of Cadmium Pollution in Soils by Different Amendments: A Column Study

Abstract

A column study was conducted to determine the effect of city compost, lime, gypsum, and phosphate on cadmium (Cd) mobility in three well‐recognized benchmark soils of India [viz., (Islamnagar) Vertisol, (Amarpur) Inceptisol, and (Khala) Alfisol]. Columns made of PVC were filled with soil treated with different treatment doses [viz., 0.5% city compost, 1% city compost, 2% city compost, 2.5 t lime/ha, 5 t lime/ha, 2.5 t lime/ha+0.5% city compost, 2.5 t gypsum/ha, 2.5 t gypsum/ha+0.5% city compost, and 100 kg P2O5/ha as potassium phosphate (KH2PO4). The columns were leached with 100 mg L−1 Cd under saturated condition. The amount of water moving through the soils was measured as the pore volume. A delayed breakthrough curve (BTC) of Cd in the presence of lime has been observed in all the studied benchmark soil series. Among the treatments, lime application reduced the movement of Cd from surface soil to lower depth of soil to a large extent resulted in 9, 25, and 45% more retention of Cd in surface soil of the Islamnagar, Amarpur, and Khala series respectively. Explanation for reduced Cd mobility in limed soil can be derived from pH changes of soils. In comparison to control soil, phosphate application caused 6, 21, and 30% more retention of Cd in surface soil in the Islamnagar, Amarpur, and Khala series, respectively. Combined application of lime and city compost reduced the movement of Cd in the soil profile. It appears that organic matter controls the sorption of Cd in soils. The amount of Cd sorbed increased with increasing organic carbon content, but gypsum application may leach Cd beyond the root‐zone depth. A rapid breakthrough curve was observed under gypsum‐treated soils. Retardation factor revealed that a somewhat lower degree of Cd retention occurred in the Khala series, which might possibly be attributed to less clay content and low pH. Overall, the column study indicated that total Cd accumulation occurred up to depths of 5–7.5 cm, 7.5–10 cm, and 10–15 cm in soils of Islamnagar, Amarpur, and Khala series, respectively.