Frequency distribution of several trace metals in 72 corn plants grown together in contaminated soil in a glasshouse

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Abstract
A 9 kg quantity of Yolo loam soil was contaminated in sequence with (in .mu.g per g soil) 100 Cd, 100 Zn, 100 Co, 12.5 Li and 100 Ni. Corn (Zea mays L. cv. Golden Cross N.C.) was grown together in the soil for 22 days from seed. Harvested plants (72) were assayed separately. Several different trace metals were tested for normal and loge frequency distribution patterns. Some followed loge normal distribution more closely than a normal distribution as indicated by kurtosis values. Two followed normal distribution more closely than loge normal distribution. Some negative skewness was observed with the loge normal distribution, but only that for Co was significant. The plant yields were significantly and negatively correlated with the concentrations of Ni, Co, Cu and Cd in shoots. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that it was reasonably possible to determine which of the trace metals of the mixture caused phototoxicity. Some pairs of trace metals were highly and positively correlated: Zn-Cu, Zn-Cd, Cu-Cd, Mn-Li, Co-Ni and Co-Cd. The mixed trace metals decreased shoot concentrations of P and Mo and increased Al and Ti relative to control plants not receiving added metals. The Si was decreased by trace metals and was positively related to yields.

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