Effects of soil properties and cultivar on cadmium accumulation in wheat grain

Abstract

The food industry faces the problem of soil contamination and consequently the deterioration of the quality of plant products. Here, we present a study on evaluation of the effect of fertilization with sewage sludge (SL) with varying, rates of biochar (BC 2.5, 5 and 10% of DW) on yield quality and the accumulation of heavy metals in wheat grains. The greatest grain yield with the highest content of protein and gluten as well as the highest total content of phenols and flavonoids, was obtained when SL+5%BC fertilization was applied. The addition of 5%BC and 10%BC to SL resulted in the greatest increase in the antioxidant capacity of grain. Among phenolic acids, syringic acid was found in the largest amount in grain in the SL+2.5%BC treatment. A significant decrease in Pb accumulation in wheat grain after application of SL+5%BC and a successive decrease in Al content with increasing BC addition were observed. To increase the quality of wheat grains and to reduce the bioaccumulation of harmful elements after the application of biochar to the soil is important in the context of food safety and health of humans especially in food production on acidic and/or contaminated soils.

Nutritionally relevant elements in staple foods: influence of arable site versus choice of variety

“…Further exceptions are Cu in winter wheat (1.6), Na in winter wheat and durum (up to 2.7) and Sr in winter wheat and durum (up to 1.9) and potatoes (2.0), as well as Co (2.0) in the latter crop. The detected variations of Cd in different cultivars are comparable with those found by Wenzel et al (1996) in winter wheat and spring durum. A total of 22 different cultivars showed differences in the Cd uptake up to a factor of 2.5.…”

“…However, Cd was also amongst the group of elements that were highest in durum wheat. Elevated Cd concentrations in spring durum cultivars have also been described by Wenzel et al (1996). Comparing the two bread grains wheat and rye, it can be stated that the concentrations of P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn and Mn were significantly higher in wheat compared to rye.…”

Low-cost agricultural measures to reduce heavy metal transfer into the food chain - a review

“…E.g., large genotypic variation of Cd accumulation was found for maize shoots (Kurz et al 1999, Florijn 1993, where two main groups of inbreds were distinguished: a group with low shoot, but high root Cd contents (shoot Cd excluder) and a group with similar shoot and root Cd concentrations (non-shoot Cd excluder). Among Austrian wheat cultivars, a 2.5-fold variation of Cd concentration in grain was observed (Wenzel et al 1996). Similarly, a 2.3-fold variation in seed Cd concentration was reported for 17 Australian lineseed lines (Hocking and McLaughlin 2000).…”

Monitoring of metallic micronutrients and heavy metals in herbs, spices and medicinal plants from Austria.

“…In the case of chamomile, sowing in spring yielded higher Cd contents in the flower heads than when the sowing was done in autumn [22]. In trials with various wheat cultivars, Wenzel et al [23] observed that Cd availability for the plants was governed by Cd in the soil and was modified by sorption to organic matter and the concentration of Ca and Cl in the soil solution. To avoid Cd accumulation in wheat, they proposed a careful choice of the variety and adjusting the soil chemical conditions.…”