ABSTRACT
This research work sort to find out the effects of Cadmium toxicity on the growth and yield parameters of Soybean (Glycine max var. TGm-95).
In order to achieve this objective, garden soil was polluted with Cadmium (as cadmium chloride) at two concentrations; 2.5 times the ecological screening value (ESV) (ESV = 4mg/kg) and 5 times the ecological screening value. The control soil had no cadmium. Thereafter, viable seed of soybean (TGm-95) were sown and growth parameters were measured up till plant maturity.
Result showed that indeed, cadmium had significant growth and yield reduction in soybean and these reduction effects were concentration dependent. Whereas, yield recorded herein as number of pods per plant was 23pods in the control and in the cadmium polluted soil, it was as much as 40%.
Hence, there should be a conscious effort channeled towards managing waste from metal producing industries, phosphate fertilizer application, sewage sludge, fossil fuel combustion and waste incineration, as these are the major sources of cadmium to the environment.
