Abstract
Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are among the heavy metals with phytotoxic and toxic effects on vegetables resulting in a significant decrease in crop yields. On the contrary, silicon (Si) has beneficial effects in enhancing plants’ tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses such as that imposed by heavy metals. This study evaluated the effects of Pb and Cd on the growth, biomass, and ameliorative mechanism of Si on concentration and uptake by leafy vegetables: spinach, kale, and amaranth. The greenhouse experiment treatments were Pb, Pb + Si, Cd, Cd + Si, Si, and control. These were arranged as a split-plot in a complete randomized design (CRD): main plots constituted vegetable species and treatments as subplots. The field experiment was carried in the Kenyatta University Research Farm, and treatments included Si application and control, arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Cadmium application reduced root biomass by 53–70% while Pb reduced it by 54–61% when compared with control. Silicon fertilization enhanced biomass tolerance by three-folds’ and significantly (p < 0.001) reduced concentration and uptake of Pb and Cd. Results indicated a strong negative correlation between Cd concentrations and growth parameters (r = 0.8). The study recommends Si application to enhance leafy vegetables' tolerance to Pb and Cd.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Cadmium reduced root biomass by 53–70% relative to control.
- Taxon
- spinach, kale, and amaranth
Spinacia oleracea.JPG?width=60)
Amaranthus caudatus
Brassica oleracea var. viridise1 - Treatment
- Cadmium applicatione0
- Outcome
- root biomasse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 53–70%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.JPG?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Cadmium application reduced root biomass by 53–70% while Pb reduced it by 54–61% when compared with control”
t0“vegetables”
e1“spinach, kale, and amaranth”
Claim · model-written summary
Lead reduced root biomass by 54–61% relative to control.
- Taxon
- spinach, kale, and amaranthSpinacia oleraceaAmaranthus caudatusBrassica oleracea var. viridise1
- Treatment
- Pbe0
- Outcome
- root biomasse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 54–61%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cadmium application reduced root biomass by 53–70% while Pb reduced it by 54–61% when compared with control”
t0“vegetables”
e1“spinach, kale, and amaranth”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon fertilization enhanced biomass tolerance threefold.
- Taxon
- spinach, kale, and amaranthSpinacia oleraceaAmaranthus caudatusBrassica oleracea var. viridise1
- Treatment
- Silicon fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- biomass tolerancee0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Value
- three-folds’e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Silicon fertilization enhanced biomass tolerance by three-folds’”
t0“vegetables”
e1“spinach, kale, and amaranth”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon fertilization significantly reduced lead concentration and uptake.
- Taxon
- spinach, kale, and amaranthSpinacia oleraceaAmaranthus caudatusBrassica oleracea var. viridise1
- Treatment
- Silicon fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- concentration and uptake of Pbe0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Qualifier
- p < 0.001e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Silicon fertilization enhanced biomass tolerance by three-folds’ and significantly (p < 0.001) reduced concentration and uptake of Pb and Cd”
t0“vegetables”
e1“spinach, kale, and amaranth”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon fertilization significantly reduced cadmium concentration and uptake.
- Taxon
- spinach, kale, and amaranthSpinacia oleraceaAmaranthus caudatusBrassica oleracea var. viridise1
- Treatment
- Silicon fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- concentration and uptake of Pb and Cde0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Qualifier
- p < 0.001e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Silicon fertilization enhanced biomass tolerance by three-folds’ and significantly (p < 0.001) reduced concentration and uptake of Pb and Cd”
t0“vegetables”
e1“spinach, kale, and amaranth”
Claim · model-written summary
Cadmium concentration was negatively correlated with growth parameters, with reported r = 0.8.
- Taxon
- spinach, kale, and amaranthSpinacia oleraceaAmaranthus caudatusBrassica oleracea var. viridise1
- Compound
- Cde0
- Outcome
- growth parameterse0
- Direction
- negativee0
- Value
- r = 0.8e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“strong negative correlation between Cd concentrations and growth parameters (r = 0.8)”
t0“vegetables”
e1“spinach, kale, and amaranth”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend silicon application to enhance heavy metal tolerance of leafy vegetables.
Verbatim
e0“The study recommends Si application to enhance leafy vegetables' tolerance to Pb and Cd”
The same questions in other papers
lead atom · growth · Spinacia oleracea (spinach)Results differ
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See all 16 papers →lead atom · growth · Amaranthus caudatus (amaranth)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
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cadmium atom · growth · Amaranthus caudatus (amaranth)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
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silicon atom · nutrient: content · Brassica oleracea (wild cabbage)Results agree
4 papers in the same direction as this paper
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See all 5 papers →silicon atom · nutrient: content · Spinacia oleracea (spinach)Results agree
5 papers in the same direction as this paper
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See all 6 papers →8 of 13 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.