Cd Content in Sugarcane and Its Relationship with Soil Factors

Cadmium (Cd) safety in soil and crop in Huanjiang River is the focus of local society. In this study, we investigated the Cd concentration in stalk and leaf of sugarcane and its relationship with pH, organic matter, total Cd, available Cd and other cation content in soils in the sugarcane-producing region using correlation, regression and path analysis. The results showed that the Cd concentration in stalk and leaf of sugarcane was 0.245 and 1.031 mg kg−1, respectively, which was higher in leaf than in stalk. A total of 27.7 % of the sugarcane stalk samples had the Cd concentration of pollution level, according to the Chinese food safety standards (0.2 mg kg−1). Simple correlation showed that available Cd concentration in soil was significantly correlated with total Cd, available Cu, Zn and Mn, but not with pH, organic matter, available Ca, Mg and Fe in soil. The Cd concentration in stalk and leaf of sugarcane was mainly influenced by total Cd, available Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn in soil. Multiple regression and path analysis further showed available Cd was the main influencing factor, followed by available Zn. Therefore, it would be effective to control the Cd concentration in sugarcane by controlling Cd input and regulating the available Cd and Cd–Zn relationship in soil.