Effect of Cd on growth, dry matter yield and nutrient composition of maize and jwar

A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of Cd on growth, dry matter yield and nutrient composition of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Jwar (Sorghum vulgare L.) under screen house condition. Experiment was conducted with a clay loam soil of pH 8.1, organic carbon 0.32%, CEC 18.40 cmol kg⁻¹ soil and DTPA extractable Cd in traces. Cadmium was applied @ 0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg kg⁻¹ soil as CdCl₂. Maize and jwar were grown for 45 days and after harvesting plants were analysed for Cd, Zn and Mn using AAS. The phytotoxicity symptoms in maize and jwar were apparent after 25 days of sowing and observed only for Cd at 20 mg kg⁻¹ soil. Increasing levels of soil applied Cd significantly decreased the dry matter yield of both the crops under study. The content of Cd in crops increased significantly with increasing rates of soil applied Cd. Maximum concentration was found for 20 mg kg⁻¹ soil with an amount of 15.6and 22.7 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight in maize and jwar, respectively. Jwar accumulated higher amountof Cd than the maize. The concentration of Zn in plant increased significantly with increasing Cd levels in both crops. Whereas Mn concentration registered a significant decrease due to application of Cd.