PLANT AVAILABILITY OF CADMIUM IN SOILS .2. FACTORS RELATED TO THE EXTRACTABILITY AND PLANT UPTAKE OF CADMIUM IN CULTIVATED SOILS

Eighty four soil samples collected from southeastern Norway were analyzed for Cd by extraction with NH4OAc, DTPA, NH4OAc-EDTA, NH4NO3, HCl and CaCl2. The total Cd, pH, exchangeable K and Ca, dithionite-extractable Mn, available P and fine sand (0.2-0.02 mm) contents were the principal factors related to the extractable Cd, with some inter-extractant variations. Cadmium extracted by NH4NO3, NH4OAc, HCl and CaCl2 decreased with increasing soil pH, but the Cd extracted by all the extractants increased with increasing total Cd, exchangeable K and Ca, available P, and Mn-oxide contents in the soils. The Cd concentrations in plants were significantly related to the extractable Cd, exchangeable Ca and Mg, pH, Mn-oxides and organic matter content.