HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Related articles in JEQ Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (24) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Adams, M. L. Articles by Chambers, B. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Adams, M. L. Articles by Chambers, B. J. Agricola Articles by Adams, M. L. Articles by Chambers, B. J. Related Collections Heavy Metals Soil Pollution

TECHNICAL REPORT

Heavy Metals in the Environment

Predicting Cadmium Concentrations in Wheat and Barley Grain Using Soil Properties

^a Agriculture and Environment Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK
^b ADAS Gleadthorpe Research Centre, Meden Vale, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG20 9PF, UK

^* Corresponding author (Fangjie.Zhao{at}bbsrc.ac.uk).

Received for publication February 24, 2003. The entry of Cd into the food chain is of concern as it can cause chronic health problems. To investigate the relationship between soil properties and the concentration of Cd in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain, we analyzed 162 wheat and 215 barley grain samples collected from paired soil and crop surveys in Britain, and wheat and barley samples from two long-term sewage sludge experiments. Cadmium concentrations were much lower in barley grain than in wheat grain under comparable soil conditions. Multiple regression analysis showed that soil total Cd and pH were the significant factors influencing grain Cd concentrations. Significant cultivar differences in Cd uptake were observed for both wheat and barley. Wheat grain Cd concentrations could be predicted reasonably well from soil total Cd and pH using the following model: log(grain Cd) = a + b log(soil Cd) – c(soil pH), with 53% of the variance being accounted for. The coefficients obtained from the data sets of the paired soil and crop surveys and from long-term sewage sludge experiments were similar, suggesting similar controlling factors of Cd bioavailability in sludge-amended or unamended soils. For barley, the model was less satisfactory for predicting grain Cd concentration (22% of variance accounted for). The model can be used to predict the likelihood of wheat grain Cd exceeding the new European Union (EU) foodstuff regulations on the maximum permissible concentration of Cd under different soil conditions, particularly in relation to the existing Directive and the proposed new Directive on land applications of sewage sludge.

Abbreviations: MPC, maximum permissible concentration

Related articles in JEQ:

This Issue in Journal of Environmental Quality

JEQ 2004 33: 413-418. [Full Text]