Elemental sulfur effects on Pb and Zn uptake by Indian mustard and winter wheat.

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of elemental sulfur to contaminated soil on plant uptake by a heavy metal hyperaccumulator, Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and a field crop, winter wheat (Triticum. aestivum). Elemental sulfur (S) with different rates was carried out, they were 0 (S0), 20 (S20), 40 (S40), 80 (S80), and 160 (S160) mmol/kg respectively.

Effects of soil amendments at a heavy loading rate associated with cover crops as green manures on the leaching of nutrients and heavy metals from a calcareous soil.

The potential risk of groundwater contamination by the excessive leaching of N, P and heavy metals from soils amended at heavy loading rates of biosolids, coal ash, N-viro soil (1:1 mixture of coal ash and biosolids), yard waste compost and co-compost (3:7 mixture of biosolids to yard wastes), and by soil incorporation of green manures of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x S. bicolor var. sudanense) was studied by collecting and analyzing leachates from pots of Krome very gravelly loam soil subjected to these treatments.

Soil contamination and plant uptake of heavy metals at polluted sites in China.

We investigated heavy metal contamination in soils and plants at polluted sites in China including some with heavy industries, metal mining, smelting and untreated wastewater irrigation areas. We report our main findings in this paper. The concentrations of heavy metals, including Cd and Zn, in the soils at the investigated sites were above the background levels, and generally exceeded the Government guidelines for metals in soil.

Responses of legume and non-legume crop species to heavy metals in soils with multiple metal contamination.

Field and glasshouse investigations were conducted on the responses of two legumes (field pea and fodder vetch) and three non-leguminous crops (maize, wheat and rapeseed) to the heavy metals Cd, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu and Mn in soil with multiple metal contamination. In general, the results indicate that the two legumes and wheat were more susceptible to soil metals than were rapeseed and maize. The dry matter yields of field pea, wheat, fodder vetch, rapeseed and maize decreased by up to 169, 123, 113, 93 and 68%, respectively, in metal-contaminated soil.