The effect of different levels of water-soluble polymer and mycorrhizal fungi on cadmium of berseem clover

Cadmium is a heavy metal with a strong adverse effect on crop quality. Moreover, it is a mobile element in environment and plants can easily uptake and transfer it to their organs. Cadmium can easily enter human and animals food chains and threatens their health. To study the effects of a water soluble polymer and inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi on cadmium uptake of clover grown on contaminated soils with different levels of cadmium, one factorial experiment were conducted using a completely randomized design and three replications. In these experiments the effects of different levels of a water soluble polymer (0, 150 and 300 kg.ha-1), inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae) and different levels of soil cadmium (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg.kg-1) on cadmium uptake of clover were assessed. The results showed that Plant inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi increased cadmium uptake of root by 72% but it decreased that of aerial parts by 18.8% and prevented translocation of cadmium from root to aerial parts. Application of polymer in soil decreased the cadmium uptake in aerial parts and roots. Application of 300 kg polymer per hectare decreased cadmium uptake of aerial parts and roots by 46 and 37.5% respectively.