Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.
Published on: June 4, 2021
[Effect of Calcium Silicate-biological Humus Fertilizer Composite on Uptake of Cd by Shallots from Contaminated
De-Ling Liu1,2, Guang-Cai Yin1, Zhi-Liang Chen2
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Abstract:
The safety of vegetable production is a key link in reducing cadmium consumption through the food chains. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of composite materials (calcium silicate-biological humus fertilizer) on the growth of shallots and the uptake of Cd by shallots from contaminated agricultural soil. Four treatments (T1: 0.5% calcium silicate+0.5% biological humus fertilizer; T2: 0.5% calcium silicate+1.0% biological humus fertilizer; T3: 1.0% calcium silicate+0.5% biological humus fertilizer; and T4: 1.0% calcium silicate+1.0% biological humus fertilizer) and a control group (CK) were adopted. The changes in soil pH, DTPA-extractable Cd, biomass of shallots, and cadmium concentrations in shallots over time under different treatments were analyzed. The results show that the application of composite amendments decreased the concentrations of DTPA-extractable Cd in the soil. In particular, after T3 treatment, the concentrations of soil DTPA-extractable Cd decreased by 60.71%, 49.54%, 44.63%, and 58.94% after 14, 28, 42, and 56 d, respectively. The biomass of the shallots aboveground increased significantly by 107.99% and 107.19% after T3 and T4 treatment, respectively. The composite amendments exhibited different effects on the uptake of Cd by the shallots from the soil, and the T4 treatment was the most effective in immobilizing Cd and inhibiting translocation of Cd into the shallots. The cadmium concentration in the shallots decreased by 43.80% after 56 d with the T4 treatment. In conclusion, T4 is the optimum treatment for soil cadmium immobilization.
Related Concept Videos
The Soil Ecosystem
Classifying Matter by Composition
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...
Fertilization
Contaminants and Errors
Another key consideration is determining the appropriate number of samples required to...
In Vitro Fertilization
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry

