... and their ilk [Image no. 2782]

Copyright of the artist.For more information about this item, browse to http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/302

Work, travel, leisure [Image no. 8474]

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Amelioration of cadmium contaminated soils using cation exchangers

The contamination of soil and water with cadmium (Cd) is an environmental issue worldwide. Using lettuce ( Lactuca sativa cv. 'Cos') in a glasshouse-based growth trial, two cation exchange materials [ a zeolite and a kaolin amorphous derivate (KAD)] were examined for their ability to remove Cd from the soil solution and hence decrease the uptake of Cd by plants. Zeolite ( applied at a rate of 2.5 t ha(-1)) was ineffective at reducing Cd uptake and accumulation in lettuce. When applied at a rate of 2.5 t ha(-1), the KAD significantly reduced Cd uptake in all soils examined ( ranging from a 26 to 64% reduction). Thus, KAD is considered to be potentially beneficial for the growth of plants in Cd-contaminated soils, although care must be taken to ensure that growth is not limited by deficiencies of the other nutrients for which KAD has a high affinity

Response

Correspondence to Gray, R. ‘Phase of illness’ model of care : are we on the right track? Australasian Psychiatry 2010;1