TRANSLOCATION AND ACCUMULATION OF 7 HEAVY-METALS IN TISSUES OF CORN PLANTS GROWN ON SLUDGE-TREATED STRIP-MINED SOIL

Metal translocation studies for Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg were conducted for corn (Zea mays L.) plants grown on strip-mined soil amended with anaerobically digested sewage sludge (25 dry tons/acre). Differential metal accumulation rates in the seven tissues analyzed showed that generally the highest metal concentrations occur in the leaves and roots and the lowest in the grain and cob. With the exception of Mn and Hg, metal concentrations increased in tissues as a result of sludge application. The greatest increases were for Cd where mean tissue concentrations (ppm) for unamended and sludge-grown conditions respectively were roots: 0.062, 3.63; lower stems: 0.027, 0.204; and leaves: 0.276, 1.52. Metal extractabilities for plant uptake were established for the soil samples adhering directly to the root system of the corn plants studied; these extractabilities were then compared to metal concentrations in the leaf and root tissues. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.