Screening Zea mays Cultivars Based upon Accumulation of Cd and Pb in the Farmland around the Lead-Zinc Mine Area

PurposeTo screen out Cd and Pb low accumulation maize varieties fit to be planted in Guanping Village, Lanping Bai-Pumi Autonomous County.

MethodIn the conditions of Cd and Pb stress, the effects of Cd and Pb on the growth of 42 maize varieties along with the differences of Cd and Pb accumulation and transfer between 42 maize varieties were studied in field experiments.

ResultThe yields of 42 maize varieties were in the range of 5 678.28-11 263.65 kg/hm², the Cd and Pb contents in the seeds of 16 varieties were less than " National Standard of Food Safety” w (Cd)≤0.1 mg/kg, w (Pb)≤0.2 mg/kg, the Cd enrichment coefficients of 42 maize varieties were in the range of 0.063-0.727, the Pb enrichment coefficients were in the range of 0.019-0.079, the seed Cd transfer coefficients were in the range of 0.007-0.089, and the seed Pb transfer coefficients were in the range of 0.010-0.312.

ConclusionEvaluated by the index of maize biomass, grain yield, Cd and Pb content, Cd and Pb enrichment coefficient and transfer coefficient, 5 varieties of Xidan No.8, Ludan No.2, Ludan No.6, Qiushuoyu No.6 and Xuanhuangdan No.5 could be used as Cd and Pb low accumulation maize varieties, and were fit to be planted in Cd and Pb lightly and moderately polluted soil in Guanping Village, Lanping Bai-Pumi Autonomous County.