Mobilization of cadmium by dissolved organic matter in the rhizosphere of hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Cd speciation in the rhizosphere of hyperaccumulating ecotype (HE) and non-hyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE) of Sedum alfredii and its effects on Cd mobility. After growing HE S. alfredii, the rhizosphere soil solution pH of heavily polluted soil (HPS) and slightly polluted soil (SPS) was reduced by 0.49 and 0.40 units, respectively, due to enhanced DOC derived from root exudation. The total Cd concentration in soil solution decreased significantly but the decrease accounted for less than 1% of the total Cd uptake in the shoots of HE S. alfredii. Visual MINTEQ speciation predicted that Cd–DOM complexes were the dominant Cd species in soil solutions after the growth of S. alfredii for both soils, followed by the free metal Cd2+ species. However, Cd–DOM complexes fraction in the rhizosphere soil solution of HE S. alfredii (89.1% and 74.6% for HPS and SPS, respectively) were much greater than NHE S. alfredii (82.8% and 64.7% for HPS and SPS, respectively). Resin equilibration experiment results indicated that DOM from the rhizosphere (R-DOM) of both ecotypes of S. alfredii had the ability to form complexes with Cd, whereas the degree of complexation was significantly higher for HE-R-DOM (79–89%) than NHE-R-DOM (63–74%) in the undiluted sample. The addition of HE-R-DOM significantly (P < 0.05) increased the solubility of four Cd minerals while NHE-R-DOM was not as effective at the same concentration. It was concluded that DOM in the rhizosphere of hyperaccumulating ecotype of S. alfredii could significantly increase Cd mobility through the formation of soluble DOM–metal complexes.

► Cd speciation in soil solution of hyperaccumulator was simulated using Visual MINTEQ. ► Cd–DOM complex were the dominant Cd species in soil solutions followed by free Cd2+ species. ► DOM from the rhizosphere of HE S. alfredii showed greater ability to form complexes with Cd. ► DOM from the rhizosphere of HE S. alfredii increased the solubility of Cd minerals significantly.