Interactive Effects of Arsenic and Phosphorus on the Uptake of Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium by Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Marigold (Tagestes erecta)

There are concerns regarding arsenic (As) contamination of soil and water resources and its potential risk to human health and environment safety. Wheat and marigold as one of the most important agricultural crops and ornamental plant, respectively, are used in phytoremediation of contaminated soils. For evaluating the effects of As and phosphorus (P) on concentration and uptake of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) in wheat and Marigold, a two factorial experiment was conducted consisting of two factors including three levels of As (0, 50 and 100 mg kg-1) and P (0, 20 and 40 mg kg-1). The experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in greenhouse conditions. Results indicated that content of Ca, Mg, and K in shoot and root of wheat and marigold decreased with increasing As levels. With increasing P levels, content of Ca in root of marigold, the content of Mg and K in shoot and root of wheat and marigold was increased. Also, interaction between As×P on most measured attributes of the plants was significant and P application partly offset the negative effect of As.