Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a highly soil mobile heavy metal which is toxic even at very low concentrations and is thus of potential
human health concern due to its entry into the food chain via consumption of edible crops. The plant nutrition is the most
economical and practicable method among all strategies for reducing the accumulation of Cd in the edible parts of the plants.
This experiment investigated the effect of changing the Cd:zinc (Zn) ratio in the soil in order to minimize the accumulation
of Cd in the edible parts, i.e. the leaves of spinach. Overall spinach growth was decreased in Cd contaminated soil, and Cd
concentrations in spinach leaf increased with increased exposure to Cd. However, while spinach growth increased at a
moderate Cd:Zn ratio of 1:10, at higher Zn soil concentrations (Cd:Zn = 1:100) plant growth was decreased, but this was also
accompanied by a significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the accumulation of Cd the spinach leaves. Thus the ratio of Cd:Zn in
Cd contaminated soils can simultaneously decrease the adverse effects of Cd on plant growth and also minimize Cd uptake
into edible plant parts.
