Residual effect of cadmium applications in different crop rotations and environments on durum wheat cadmium accumulation

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the heavy metals commonly present in soils that is toxic for living organisms and carcinogenic in humans. The uptake of Cd by a crop depends on various factors such as soil properties, plant-soil interaction, fertilizer management, and previous crop. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the residual effect of three Cd rates applied in three preceding crops (durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. var durum], white lupine [Lupinus albus L.], and narrow-leafed lupine [Lupineus angustifolius L.]) on total dry matter, grain yield, and Cd concentration and uptake in three durum wheat cultivars in four environments. The residual effect of a cadmium chloride (CdCl2) dose applied in the preceding crop to durum wheat was affected by location and previous crop, with the greatest effect in La Serena with narrow-leafed lupines as the preceding crop. Finally, in soils where a critical level of Cd is present, narrow-leafed lupines should not be used as a previous crop to durum wheat.