Author(s)

Valérie S. Azzi^1,2,3*, Ali Kanso¹, Ahmad Kobeissi¹, Véronique Kazpard¹, Bruno Lartiges², Antoine El Samrani¹

¹Platform for Research and Analysis in Environmental Sciences, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology (EDST), Faculty of Science, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon.
²Geosciences Environment Toulouse, University of Toulouse III, Toulouse, France.
³Lebanses Agriculture Research Institute, Fanar, Lebanon.

Cadmium (Cd), one of the most toxic heavy metals added to soil after phosphate fertilizer treatment, was investigated. The effects of this metal on morphological and physiological changes of Lactuca sativa were studied in addition to its partitioning in different parts of the crop. In parallel, Lactuca sativa was allowed to grow under hydroponic conditions with modifications of the Hoagland nutrient solution. This solution was submitted to five Cd concentrations, 0, 0.093, 0.186, 0.279 and 0.372 mg Cd/L and three P concentrations, 0, 299 and 1420 mg P/L. The study showed a positive effect of phosphorus on root elongation, surface area while cadmium inhibited plant growth and sometimes the death of the plants. Cadmium was found to be accumulated in roots while zinc was preferably accumulated in the leaves and stems. The increase of performance of Lactuca sativa under hydroponic condition and Hoagland contaminated solution with cadmium was found to be better than the ones grown in Cd amended soil with or without phosphorus.

Cadmium, Fertilizers, Hydroponic, Lactuca sativa, Phosphorus

Azzi, V. , Kanso, A. , Kobeissi, A. , Kazpard, V. , Lartiges, B. and Samrani, A. (2015) Effect of Cadmium on Lactuca sativa Grown in Hydroponic Culture Enriched with Phosphate Fertilizer. Journal of Environmental Protection, 6, 1337-1346. doi: 10.4236/jep.2015.612116.