The effects of four cadmium tolerant plant straws on the growth and cadmium content of jujube seedlings

Abstract

To study the effects of four cadmium-tolerant plant straws on the growth and cadmium content of Zizyphus acidojujuba seedlings, Zizyphus acidojujuba seedlings were planted in cadmium-contaminated soil (5mg ⋅ kg−1) with cadmium-tolerant plants straws such as Ranunculus sieboldii, Clinopodium confine, Plantago asistica and Mazus pumilus through pot experiments. Results showed that the biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, peroxidase (POD) activity and soluble protein content of Zizyphus acidojujuba seedlings could be improved by applying four kinds of plant straws with cadmium tolerance to cadmium-contaminated soil. At the same time, the catalase (CAT) activity in cadmium-contaminated soil was increased, the growth of Zizyphus acidojujuba seedlings was promoted, and the cadmium content in root and overground parts of Zizyphus acidojujuba seedlings was reduced. The cadmium transfer coefficient of Zizyphus acidojujuba seedlings could be increased by only applying the straw of the Clinopodium confine, while the cadmium transfer coefficient of Zizyphus acidojujuba seedlings could be reduced by all the other straw treatments Therefore, the four kinds of cadmium-tolerant plant straws are all suitable for the restoration of cadmium-polluted Zizyphus acidojujuba gardens, among which the Ranunculus sieboldii, Plantago asistica and Mazus pumilus straws are better.