Assessing cadmium uptake in New Zealand agricultural systems
Date
2018
Type
Conference Contribution - published
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Abstract
Soil cadmium (Cd) concentration is the primary indicator through which fertiliser-derived Cd is currently managed under the New Zealand Cadmium Management Strategy (MAF 2011). However, there is a lack of New Zealand-specific data on the soil Cd concentrations that may actually pose a risk for New Zealand agricultural systems and how these risks might be managed. This paper presents an overview of the results from a two-year study on cadmium uptake into food crops (wheat, potato, onion and leafy greens), effects on soil rhizobia-clover symbiosis and uptake into lambs grazed on crops with a range of Cd concentrations. Specifically, this includes the results of field surveys of these crops in their primary commercial growing regions across New Zealand and field trials to assess the influence of lime and compost addition on plant Cd; studies to assess the toxicity of Cd to clover in the presence and absence of rhizobia, and the influence Cd on plant nitrogen content, and investigation of the accumulation in the livers of lambs grazed on ryegrass, lucerne, plantain and chicory. The implications for managing the risk associated with fertiliser-derived Cd are discussed.
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© The authors and FLRC