Salinity and Zinc Application Effects on Phytoavailability of Cadmium and Zinc

Abstract

Salinity and Zn deficiency in soils are two factors that may change the phytoavailability of Zn and Cd. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of salinity and Zn application on soil Cd and Zn solubility and their concentration in wheat shoots. A greenhouse experiment with wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Rushan) consisting of two levels of Zn (0 and 15 mg Zn kg−1, in the form of ZnSO4), and five salinity levels of irrigation water (0, 60, 120, and 180 mM NaCl, and 120 mM NaNO3) in triplicate was conducted. Wheat was seeded in pots. After 45 d of growth, the shoots were harvested, and Zn and Cd concentrations were determined. After harvesting, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and concentrations of anions and cations were determined in soil saturation extracts. Concentrations of Cd and Zn species in soil solution were predicted using the speciation program MINTEQA2. Increasing salinity increased total Cd (CdT), Cd2+, CdCl+, CdHCO3+, and CdCl20 concentrations in the soil solution, whereas no such effect was found for the NaNO3 treatment. Higher salinity decreased the total Zn (ZnT) and free Zn2+ concentrations in the soil solution and decreased Zn concentrations in the wheat shoots. With application of Zn fertilizer, shoot Cd concentrations decreased by 11 to 90%, whereas Zn concentration increased by 75 to 103%. Increasing salinity of irrigation water decreased shoot dry matter, especially if no ZnSO4 was applied. Application of Zn had a positive effect on salt tolerance of plant and increased dry matter of shoot.