Contrasting effect of phosphate on phytoavailability of arsenic and cadmium in soils supporting medicinal plants

• Published in: Applied biological chemistry 2017, 60(2), , pp.119-128
• Main Authors: Noh, Yong Dong, Park, Hye Jin, Kim, Kwon Rae, Kim, Won Il, Jung, Ki Youl, Kim, Sung Un, Owens, Vance N., Moon, Jin Seong, Yun, Sung Wook, Kim, Sang Yoon, Hong, Chang Oh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied Microbiology; Arsenates; Arsenic; Biological Techniques; Bioorganic Chemistry; Cadmium; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Herbal medicine; Medicinal plants; Soil chemistry; Soil pH; Soils; 농학
• ISSN: 2468-0834; 2468-0842
• DOI: 10.1007/s13765-017-0262-3

Soil and plant samples were collected from 84 fields where medicinal plants were cultivated to determine the effect of soil phosphate (P) on the concentration of plant-available arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) and on the uptake of these toxic elements by medicinal plants. Concentrations of total P and available P in soils affected the phytoavailability of As and Cd differentially. Plant-available As in the soil and its uptake in the plant increased with increasing concentration of plant-available P in the soil due to competition between arsenate and P for the adsorption site at the soil surface and an increase in soil pH caused by specific adsorption of P. In contrast, phytoavailability of Cd decreased with increasing concentration of available P in soil. This was mainly attributed to an increase in Cd adsorption caused by P-induced negative charge of soil.