AVAILABILITY OF CADMIUM FOR VEGETABLE PLA NTS IN ALLOTMENT SOILS

Pot experiments with soils from allotments of Hamburg and different ve getables were carried out to determine the mobility and plant availabi lity of cadmium. Total soil Cd-contents in combination with other soil properties as well as 0.1 M CaCl2 and 1 M NH4NO3 extractable Cd were tested with regard to forecasting the Cd-uptake by plants. A direct co mparison of these methods and their suitability is given. Soil thresho ld values were derived, which possibly result in Cd-plant uptake and C d-contents exceeding the actually valid limits in food. These threshol d values were evaluated for three testing methods. Total soil Cd-conte nt in combination with pH as well as 0,1 M CaCl2 and 1 M NH4NO3 extrac table Cd.