UPTAKE OF SOIL-APPLIED CADMIUM, NICKEL AND SELENIUM BY BUSH BEANS

A field study was conducted to determine the phytoavailability of Cd, Ni and Se to bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivar. Blue Lake) wh en grown in an Orangeburg loamy sand (Typic Paleudult). The study was conducted using a completely randomized block design, with three metal s (Cd, Ni, Se) and three metal concentrations (control, medium, and hi gh). Application of metals either at high or medium levels did not inf luence the biomass production. Cadmium was relatively immobile and ten ded to accumulate mostly in the roots. Nickel and Se, however, tended to be more mobile in the plant as indicated by Ni accumulating equally in roots and pods and Se accumulating mostly in the roots but signifi cantly greater than Cd and Ni in all plant parts. Our results indicate that bush beans exposed to Se had Concentration Factors (C.F.) of up to 250 in the pods and over 800 in roots. Cadmium had a C.F. of 4 in r oots and negligible in above ground plant parts, while a Ni C.F. was 2 in roots and pods but negligible in leaves. This study provides evide nce that Se has more potential for accumulation in bush beans than doe s Cd or Ni.