Abstract:
Objective The oxidation - reduction processes of sulfur in soil are closely related to the environmental behavior of heavy metals. Investigating the influence of sulfur on cadmium (Cd) migration in hyperaccumulator plants and revealing the dominant controlling factors can provide methodological and theoretical support for the construction of phytoremediation systems in agricultural soils.
Method By conducting both pot and field experiments, the dynamic regulation of soil Cd bioavailability by different rates of sulfur (0%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1%) in Cd contaminated agricultural soils was investigated and the impact of sulfur application on the accumulation of Cd in Arabidopsis thaliana and Sedum alfredii Hance was revealed.
Result Soil pH decreased with the addition of sulfur and the decrease of pH slowed down about 28 d. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the soil showed a trend of increase with the addition of sulfur, and the concentration of DOC in soil increased by 1.08-fold and 1.78-fold respectively compared with that of the control group after soil treated with 0.5% and 1% sulfur for 112 d. The concentration of bioavailable Cd in soil increased with the addition of sulfur, with the highest concentration of DGT-extractable Cd in soil treated with 0.25% sulfur for 112 d, which was 5.97 times higher than that of the control group, and the highest concentration of DTPA-extractable Cd in soil treated with 1% sulfur for 112 d, which was 70.4% higher than that of the control group. Pot and field experiments further confirmed that sulfur addition promoted Cd uptake by hyperaccumulator plants. Within a certain range, the Cd accumulation in Sedum alfredii increased with higher sulfur application rates.
Conclusion Sulfur application can reduce soil pH, with a slower decline after 28 days. The addition of sulfur gradually promotes the transformation of soil Cd into bioavailable forms. An appropriate sulfur application rate (0.5%) can effectively enhance the Cd extraction efficiency of hyperaccumulator plants.