Interactions of lead and cadmium on metal uptake and growth of corn plants

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 18 - 20
• Main Authors: Miller, J.E, Hassett, J.J, Koeppe, D.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America 01.01.1977
• Subjects: ion uptake; plant toxicity
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq1977.00472425000600010005x

Short term plant accumulation and growth effects of Pb and Cd added to soil separately and in combination were investigated with corn (Zea mays L., Wf9 × M14) grown in a loamy sand under greenhouse conditions. A tendency for soil Pb to increase both the plant Cd concentration and the total Cd uptake of the corn shoots was observed. Conversely, soil Cd reduced the total Pb uptake and in some cases the Pb concentration in the corn shoots. Both Pb (125 and 250 µg/g soil) and Cd (2.5 and 5 µg/g soil) reduced the vegetative growth of the corn shoots, and a positive interaction of the two metals on growth was noted.