Solubility and Plant Uptake of Cadmium in Soils Amended with Cadmium and Sewage Sludge

AbstractAdsorption and precipitation of Cd2+ in soil suspensions were investigated as possible factors controlling Cd2+ levels in soils. Both adsorption of Cd2+ onto soils surfaces and possibly precipitation of cadmium minerals were evident in this study. At low cadmium levels solubility relationships in soils are best described by adsorption and fit the empirical Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Based on current thermodynamic data the solid phases CdCO3 (log Ksp = −12.07) and Cd3(PO4)2 (log Ksp = −32.61) most likely limit Cd2+ activities in soils. Under alkaline conditions, Cd2+ activity decreased approximately 100‐fold for each unit increase in pH. In this study, CdCO3 precipitated in sandy soils, having low cation exchange capacity (CEC), low organic matter, and pH values >7.0.DTPA‐extractable cadmium levels in soils were highly correlated (r = 0.96) with Cd concentrations in corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings grown on soils amended with Cd solutions, sewage sludge, or Cd‐spiked sewage sludge. Increasing Cd additions to the soil increased plant Cd regardless of the form of Cd added. Addition of inorganic Cd to the soil increased the Cd concentration of corn seedlings more than equivalent Cd additions in the form of sewage sludge or Cd‐spiked sludge.