Consequences of Cd and chicken manure on growth and on some nutrient contents of spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea l.)

Abstract

We aimed to determine the impact of cadmium (Cd) and chicken manure on dry weight (dw), Cd and some nutrient element concentrations of spinach plants, as well as their uptake. Cadmium doses of 0, 10, and 20 mg kg(-1), and 0, 5000, 10000, and 20000 kg ha(-1) chicken manure (CM) were applied to the soil in greenhouse conditions under randomized plots with three replicates. Cd doses elevated N, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Mg and Cd concentrations and also Cd uptake, but decreased the dry weight and the up-taken amounts of nutrient elements. Because of the severe root degradation, Cd uptake was found high in the leaves rather than roots. Adding chicken manure, improved dry weight and elevated the up-taken amounts of nutrient elements (p<0.01). However, it was observed that the applications could not lower the Cd concentrations below the WHO limits. Due to the fact that the plant nutrient concentrations are within the limits of sufficiency and there are no signs of toxicity in the plants despite the high Cd content, it may cause people to consume these plants unaware of the high Cd content and deteriorate their health.