Growth and Cd accumulation of two halophytes and a non-halophyte grown in a non-saline and a saline soil with different Cd levels

Two halophytes, Salicornia europaea and Atriplex verucifera, and the non-halophyte Chenopodium album were grown in pots on sodic and non-sodic Iranian soils spiked with up to 100 mg Cd kg−1. The halophytes grew best on the sodic soil in the absence of Cd spiking, while C. album performed better on non-sodic soil. Cadmium spiking reduced the growth of all plants, with Cd tolerance decreasing in the order S. europaea>A. verucifera>C. album. The observed order of Cd tolerance corresponds to the abilities of the plants to tolerate sodic soil properties. The variation of Cd concentration in shoots in response to sodicity was related to different mechanism, including dilution (C. album) Cd solubilisation by Ca2+ (S. europea) and Ca2+ competition for uptake and translocation of Cd (A. verucifera). Improved understanding of these complex interactions will help to design phytoextraction technology for Cd-polluted soils in arid regions.