Lime amelioration of zinc and cadmium toxicities for Eucalyptus camaldulensis seedlings cultivated in contaminated soil

The effects of lime rates on the growth of Eucalyptus camaldulensis in soil mixtures with increasing proportions of Zn and Cd contamination were evaluated. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions and the metal contamination levels were obtained by mixing 0, 25, 50, and 100% of a contaminated soil with a non-contaminated one used as diluter. Lime rates were 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 t ha(-1) and the experiment was conducted in pots containing 1.5 kg of soil with treatments arranged in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme. Lime additions raised the soil pH up to neutrality, reduced concentration of extractable Zn and Cd in the soil, and increased plant growth. Plants in the highest contaminated soil died five days after transplanting when lime was not applied. Lime amendment reduced shoot Zn concentrations to below those considered toxic for plants, but did not have the same effect on Cd concentrations. The effects of lime on the availability and shoot concentrations of Zn and Cd and on plant growth indicated its potential as an ameliorator of heavy metal toxicity for E. camaldulensis seedlings in contaminated soils.