EFFECT OF IRRIGATION WITH LEAD AND CADMIUM ON THE GROWTH AND ON THE METAL UPTAKE OF CAULIFLOWER, SPINACH AND PARSLEY

The effect of root-treatment of cauliflower, spinach, and parsley plan ts with lead and cadmium were studied. Both metal ions showed obvious growth inhibition of treated plants with cadmium having higher toxicit y on growth than lead. Cadmium was more concentrated in the edible par ts of the three treated plants whereas lead was more concentrated in t he edible parts of cauliflower and spinach plants only. Metal ion conc entrations and total metal ion content of treated plants increased wit h the increase of concentration of cadmium or lead ions in solutions u sed for treatment. The uptake of metal ion per unit concentration decr eased in treated plants with the increase of concentration of cadmium or lead ions in solutions used for treatment. Metal ion concentration and metal uptake were higher in the plants treated with cadmium than t hose treated with lead.