HEAVY-METAL ACCUMULATION IN CROPS GROWN ON SEWAGE SLUDGE AMENDED WITH METAL SALTS

Poplar (Populus euramericana 'Robusta'), oats (Avena sativa L. 'Leander'), maize (Zea mays L. 'Ona 36'), English ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), butter head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. 'Reskia'), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. 'Subito') and French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Prelude'), were grown in pots with pure sewage sludge (pH 6.7), amended with Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn acetates, either added singly or in combination, to study metal effects on plant growth and metal uptake. Phytotoxic metal doses varied with metal and plant species, increasing in the order Cd < Ni < Cu < Zn < Cr and Pb. The threshold dose of toxic metals applied in combination was generally lower than that of metals given singly. Addition of Cd, Ni and Zn was clearly reflected in the respective plant concentrations.This was much less so for Cu, whereas Cr and Pb concentrations were not affected in most plant species. Critical plant (leaf) metal concentrations were lower for metals applied in combination than for single metals. Because of such phenomena the use of critical levels as a diagnostic tool for determining potential multiple metal toxicity is limited.