AgResearch
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

Cadmium in New Zealand pasture soils: toxicity to Rhizobia and while clover

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-03, 17:20 authored by Steve Wakelin, Jo-Anne Cavanagh, Sandra YoungSandra Young, Colin Gray, R van Ham
A survey of 26 pastures was conducted and soil and plant material analysed for total cadmium (Cd) and phosphorus (P), and soils further analysed for a variety of edaphic properties. Background Cd in pasture soils ranged from 0.06–0.85 mg Cd kg−1 soil (mean of 0.23) and correlated closely with total P (R2 = 65.5; P < 0.001), while weaker relationships with Olsen P, nitrate-N and calcium were evident. Cadmium in the pasture dry matter had no correlation to underlying soil total Cd (P = 0.113) or soil P (P = 0.75). Strains of Rhizobium spp. were isolated from a reference soil high in Cd (Morrinsville; 1.34 mg Cd kg−1 soil) and a mid-range Cd soil (Whataroa; 0.32 mg Cd kg−1 soil). The IC50 of these strains, along with the commercial inoculant for white clover (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1), to Cd were tested using a respiration sensitive assay (MicroRespTM). Rhizobia from the Whataroa soil had significantly greater tolerance to Cd than those from Morrinsville soil (P = 0.008). We propose a general stress-tolerance mechanism has evolved in the rhizobia from Whataroa, conferring metal co-tolerance. The Cd IC50 of Rhizobium TA1 was 3.06 ppm, but levels of respiration inhibition were evident at lower concentrations. Given the importance of the legume:rhizobia symbiosis to New Zealand's pastoral sector, determination of ‘no observable effect concentrations' is required for Rhizobium spp., pasture legumes and, most importantly, the establishment and function of symbiosis (nodulation and N2 fixation, respectively).

History

Rights statement

© 2016 AgResearch

Language

  • English

Does this contain Māori information or data?

  • No

Publisher

Taylor & Francis Group

Journal title

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

ISSN

0028-8233

Citation

Wakelin, S. A., Cavanagh, J.A.E., Young, S., Gray, C. W., & van Ham, R.J.C. (2016). Cadmium in New Zealand pasture soils: toxicity to Rhizobia and white clover. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 59(1), 65-78. DOI:10.1080/00288233.2015.1130725

Usage metrics

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC