Effect of chemical and biological fertilizers combination on cadmium concentration and growth parameters of fenugreek medicinal plant in cadmium polluted soil

Plants are the most sources for cadmium enters to human food and this element in food regime may be a serious threat to human health. Thus, the effect of Azotobacter inoculum (Azotobacter chroococcum), mycorrhiza fungi (Glomus intraradaices), zinc sulphate and urea on cadmium Convertation and growth parameters of fenugreek medicinal plant (Trigonella foenum gracum L.) in cadmium polluted soils were evaluated. This experiment conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications at the research greenhouse of Shahrekord University. Eight fertilizer treatments included control (without fertilizer), urea, urea+ zinc sulfate, urea+ Azotobacter, urea+ mycorrhiza, urea + zinc sulfate + Azotobacter, urea + zinc sulfate + mycorrhiza, urea + zinc sulfate + mycorrhiza + Azotobacter. The results indicated that the highest of plant height, leaf fresh weight and shoot fresh weight of the aboveground of fenugreek were obtained in urea+ Azotobacter but it didn’t have a significant difference with that of the urea + zinc sulfate + mycorrhiza. Also, the lowest cadmium concentration (0.09 mg/kg) was produced in urea+ Azotobacter and urea + zinc sulfate + mycorrhiza (P≤0.05). Appliction two biofertilizers sources plus zinc sulfate in compared to chemical fertilizer treatments had appropriate vegetative growth and fairly cadmium concentration. In conclusion, Azotobacter application for fenugreek production in addition to increase yield and can be effective in preventing of cadmium transmission in the human food regime as well as.