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Agricultural industry

Breakthrough Research on Safe Utilization of Farmland Contaminated with Cadmium and Lead

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at Huazhong Agricultural University have published a new study on the impact of humic acid and potassium fulvate on cadmium and lead accumulation and translocation in maize grown in co-contaminated soil. The study found that these amendments significantly reduced the bioavailable fractions of cadmium and lead, promoting maize growth and yield, with the high-dose humic acid treatment increasing yield by a maximum of 32.9%. The results also showed a significant positive correlation between cadmium and lead concentrations across all plant parts, confirming a synergistic accumulation and translocation mechanism.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study systematically evaluated the impacts of humic acid and potassium fulvate at different application rates (0, 1500, 3000, and 4500 kg·ha-1) on the growth, yield, and translocation of Cd and Pb within the soil-plant system of maize (Zea mays L.).
  • Humic acid and potassium fulvate did not significantly alter total soil Cd and Pb concentrations but markedly reduced their bioavailable fractions, mitigating heavy metal phytotoxicity and promoting maize growth and yield.
  • The high-dose humic acid treatment increased yield by a maximum of 32.9%, while both amendments dose-dependently decreased Cd and Pb concentrations, bioconcentration factors (BCF), and translocation factors (TF) in all maize tissues, particularly in the grains.
  • Potassium fulvate was slightly more effective than humic acid in reducing heavy metal concentrations in the grains at equivalent application rates.
  • A significant positive correlation was observed between Cd and Pb concentrations across all plant parts, confirming a synergistic accumulation and translocation mechanism.
  • The study proposed a differentiated application approach, where potassium fulvate is preferred when ensuring food-grade safety is the primary goal and high-dose humic acid is more advantageous for maximizing yield in soils with low-to-moderate contamination risk.

Statistics:

  • 32.9%: maximum increase in yield achieved by the high-dose humic acid treatment.
  • 1500, 3000, and 4500 kg·ha-1: application rates of humic acid and potassium fulvate evaluated in the study.
  • 15 (19): issue number and year of publication for the journal article.
  • 2025: year of publication for the news report.
  • 1526: page number of the news report.

Sources:

  • Impacts of Humic Acid and Potassium Fulvate on Cadmium and Lead Accumulation and Translocation in Maize (* * Zea mays* * L.) Grown in Co-Contaminated Soil. Agriculture, 2025,15(19):2064. (Agriculture - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture)
  • NewsRx. New Agriculture Research Has Been Reported by Researchers at Huazhong Agricultural University [Impacts of Humic Acid and Potassium Fulvate on Cadmium and Lead Accumulation and Translocation in Maize (* * Zea mays* * L.) Grown in Co-Contaminated ...]. Agriculture Week. October 30, 2025; p 1526.

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