Prediction of cadmium concentrations in potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) by pre-plant soil and irrigation water analyses

Potato tubers can accumulate high concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in edible portions, so that techniques to determine high risk Cd environments are required by growers. The use of combined soil and irrigation water analyses prior to crop planting was investigated as a means to predict risks of Cd accumulation in tubers. Soils and irrigation waters were analysed at 134 sites in the major potato production areas in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales. Irrigation waters were analysed for electrical conductivity (EC), major cations, and anions. Cadmium was extracted from soil using aqua regia (1 : 3 HNO3: HCl), EDTA (ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate), DTPA (diethylene-triamine-pentaacetate), 0·01 M CaCl2, 0·01 M Ca(NO3)2, 0·1 M CaCl2, and 1·0 M NH4NO3. The preferred test procedure was validated in a subsequent sampling and analysis program at 39 sites. Irrigation water quality (EC or Cl concentration), measured prior to planting, explained the greatest variation in tuber Cd concentrations. Of the soil test procedures, only Cd extracted by 0·01 M CaCl2 significantly improved the predictive capacity of water EC. These 2 measures explained >55% of the variance in tuber Cd concentrations. The data set were transformed to generate a probability curve for exceeding Cd concentrations of either 0·05 or 0·1 mg/kg fresh weight, the latter being the current maximum permitted concentration (MPC) in Australia for potato tubers. The probability of producing potato tubers exceeding 0·05 and 0·1 mg/kg fresh weight was >50% once irrigation water EC increased above 1·4 and 3·0 dS/m, respectively. Using the relationships developed, growers should be able to quantify Cd risks by a simple test of irrigation water EC prior to planting and, if further precision is needed, also determine CaCl2-extractable Cd in soil. <keyword>Additional keywords: extractable, available, salinity, food quality.</keyword>