Paper Details

Nutrient shifts modeling in Fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata L.) under biochar and cadmium treatments

Uzma Younis, Muhammad Farooq Qayyum, M. Hasnain Raza Shah, Saeed Ahmad Malik

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.8.64-74

Int. J. Biosci. 5(8), 64-74. October, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

Amelioration of cadmium (Cd) toxicity to plants through use of biochar (BC) is a promising technique. However, a little is known about interactive effect of biochar and Cd on nutrient shifts in plants. In present study, fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata L.) was grown in a soil-culture pots amended with three levels of BC (0%, 3% and 5%) and four levels of Cd (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg Cd kg-1 soil). After harvest, the modeling of nutrients shift under Cd and BC treatments was performed to check the uptake of various nutrients (N, P & K). For nutrients modeling an emerging technique vector analysis was used as it gives comparative results of relative nutrient concentration, contents and relative dry weight in a graphic format.  The vector analysis explores the nutrientsshifts by arrow movements in cadmium and biochar treatments. The relative concentration, contents of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and relative dry weight give treatment specific response as their increased or decreased is not related to specific treatments of cadmium and biochar but biochar showed positive influence on nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations and contents of T. corniculata.   So, BC is useful in increasing uptake of nitrogen and phosphorous under high cadmium stress.