Enrichment of cadmium in cacao growing soils in southern Ecuador: Chemical characterization and soil amendments as remediation alternatives

Abstract:

Cadmium (Cd) is probably the most troublesome soil pollutant due to its high availability to living organisms. Excessive Cd content was reported in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) beans from southern Ecuador, which is key ingbkp_redient of finedark chocolates. Moreover, soil-Cd has not been monitored in cacao-growing areas. Biogeochemistry of Cd in cacao farms in southern Ecuador was studied. Furthermore, the potential of soil amendments in reducing plant-available Cd was evaluated. Soil and bean samples were collected from representative cacao farms whereas the potential of amendments in reducing plant-available Cd was evaluated in three cacao-growing soils. In addition, Cd absorption and partitioning in cacao seedlings were evaluated in hydroponics. According to US standards, all soils had Cd concentrations above critical levels for agricultural land (> 0.43 mg kg-1). Cadmium was substantially …

Año de publicación:

2015

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Fuente:

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