Effects of organic and inorganic amendments on bio-accumulation and partitioning of Cd in Brassica juncea and Ricinus communis

• Phytoremediation of cadmium contamination soil by Ricinus communis and Brassica juncea.
• Enhancement of phytoremediation potential by using different fertilizers.
• Inorganic and biofertilizers increased the metal bioaccumulation.
• Vermicompost and customized fertilizers reduced bioaccumulation.
• The fertilizers increased the concentration index and translocation factor of Cd.

The effects of different fertilizer amendments on cadmium (Cd) uptake and growth of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) were investigated in this experiments. The application of vermicompost, un-entrapped and entrapped forms of inorganic fertilizers (i.e., urea and diammonium phosphate; DAP) and bio-fertilizers (Basillus subtilis and Azotobacter chrocoocum) to the soil caused significant increase in the fresh and dry biomass of roots and shoots of both the species. Protein and proline content in the plant leaves increased with the application of these fertilizers, however, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) got decreased. Application of Cd caused decrease in protein content which was found to recover with the amendments of these fertilizers. However, proline content was found increased with application of the fertilizers in both presence and absence of Cd in both the plants. Increased MDA content in Cd treated plants was reduced when these fertilizers were applied to the soil. Application of un-entrapped inorganic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers increased Cd uptake in the roots and shoots of both the species whereas, vermicompost and entrapped forms of these fertilizers decreased the metal accumulation. R. communis was found to be more tolerant and extracted higher amount of Cd than that of B. juncea. Accumulation of the metal was further increased by the application of fertilizers especially inorganic fertilizers by R. communis.