EFFECTS OF SOIL PROPERTIES AND CULTIVAR ON CADMIUM ACCUMULATION IN WHEAT-GRAIN

Cd accumulation in the grain of wheat cultivars grown on soils at seve n experimental sites in the Austrian wheat zone was significantly affe cted by soil chemical characteristics and by cultivar. Multiple linear regression analyses indicate that about 80% of the variation in Cd ac cumulation may be explained by cultivar, total soil Ca, and organic ca rbon (OC). An additional 10% of the variation was correlated with Cl- and Ca2+ in the soil solution. Uptake of Cd increased with higher soil Cd content and higher Cl- concentrations in soil solution, but decrea sed at higher levels of OC and soluble Ca. Cd accumulation varied by a factor of up to 2.5 among cultivars. The highest Cd accumulation was found in some spring durum cultivars in soils containing relatively lo w total Cd (< 0.4 mg kg(-1)); at some sites the maximum permissible Cd concentrations in wheat grain (0.1 mg kg(-1)) was exceeded according to German regulations. Selecting low Cd-accumulating cultivars adjusti ng soil chemical conditions may provide alternatives to reduce Cd inta ke in human diet.