Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Soil salinity has been reported to stimulate to Cd uptake of plants, particularly when Cdbioavailability is poor. The present study assessed the effects of two salinity levels of irrigation water (0, 50mM NaCl) on Cd availability and uptake of different lettuce varieties under growth three levels of Cd (0, 1.5and 3.0 mg Cd kg⁻¹) pollution level at greenhouse condition. Sixty days after planting, the shoots wereharvested, and Cd, Cl- and mineral concentrations of plant were determined. Cadmium application withoutNaCl treatment positively affected plant dry matter, and the highest yield increase ratio was obtained fromChinese cabbage at 3 mg Cd kg⁻¹ pollution without NaCl salinity but salinity treatment without Cd pollutionnegatively affected growth and mineral content of lettuce. Increasing levels of NaCl caused increases in thephyto-availability of Cd, as indicated by a significant increase in the leaf concentration of Cd. Plant leaf Cdconcentrations were significantly correlated with soil and leaf Cl- concentration. Increasing levels of NaClunder Cd pollution caused increases in the phyto-availability of Cd, Ca, Na, Mn, and Zn mineral content inleaves of lettuce plants except for K, Fe and Cu content. It can be concluded from the study that salinitytreatment can increase Cd in the phyto-availability of Cd, so grower must take into consideration Cd level inthe soil under salinity stress condition.