EFFECTS OF APPLICATION OF LHERZOLITE IN GROWTH OF SPINACIA OLERACEA L. AND SOIL MICROBES IN CADMIUM CONTAMINATED SOIL IN CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metals for both plants and animals. Generally, availability of Cd in agricultural soils causes suppression in plant growth by increasing the concentration of Cd in plant parts. This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of Lherzolite on growth of SpinaciaOleracea L. and Microbial Population in Cd contaminated soils. Effect on microbial population was measure by measuring microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), microbial basal respiration, and fungal and bacterial population in soil. Effect on plant growth was done by measuring the dry weight of plant shoot and root and by quantifying the amount of Cd concentrated in plant tissues. It was hypothesized that application of lherzolite in sandy loam soil will decrease the bioavailability of cadmium and thereby result in an increase in plant growth. Results revealed that increased application of lherzolitedoes not display a significant increase in plant root weight; however, it significantly increases plant shoot weight and decreases the tissue cadmium concentration in plant shoots, whereas the change in microbial population and microbial biomass carbon does not have significant difference. The data suggests that lherzolite can be a good remediating chemical for Cd without any side effects on microbial population and its activities.