Effects of Plant Residue and Salinity on Fractions of Cadmium and Lead in Three Soils

Abstract

Bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals (HMs) in soils are determined by their partitioning between solution and solid-phase and their further redistribution among solid-phase components. A study was undertaken to determine the effects of organic matter (OM) and salinity on cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) distribution among soil fractions. Three agricultural soils were treated with 20 mg Cd/kg as Cd (NO₃)₂·4H₂O, 150 mg Pb/kg as Pb (NO₃)₂, 20 g/kg alfalfa powder, and 50 mmol/kg of NaCl, and then incubated at 60% water holding capacity (60% WHC) and constant temperature (25°C) for 12 weeks. Various fractions of Cd and Pb were extracted from the soils after 2 and 12 w of incubation using a sequential extraction technique. Results showed that in the early stage of incubation (2 w), added Pb were found mainly in the specifically sorbed (SS) and amorphous Fe oxides (AFeO) fractions and added Cd found in SS and Mn oxides (MnO) fractions. Addition of 2% OM decreased the exchangeable (EXC) Pb fraction almost in all soils, whereas it had a different effect on the EXC Cd fraction depending on soil pH. Addition of NaCl increased the EXC Cd fraction in two soils, but it did not alter Pb fractions. At the end of the incubation period, Pb decreased in the EXC and MnO fractions except in the neutral soil and Cd decreased mainly in the SS fraction.

Keywords:

• Cadmium
• lead
• organic matter
• salinity
• fractionation

Notes

^$Not detected.

^†determined in 1:10 alfalfa:water suspension.

^‡ Relative errors (%): (Sum of all fractions – Total)* 100/ Total.

¶ Average and standard deviation, 3 replicates.

^‡Relative errors (%): (Sum of all fractions – Total)* 100/ Total.

^¶Average and standard deviation, 3 replicates.

^¶Average (mg/kg) and standard deviation, 3 replicates.

^¶Average and standard deviation, 3 replicates.

^†Not detected.

^† Not detected.

^¶Average (mg/kg) and standard deviation, 3 replicates.