Heavy Metals In Soil And Amendments

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Homesteader

Homesteader

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I have been doing some digging through and figured I would share it. It seems to me as a cannabis smoker cadmium is our most concern as a heavy metal due to its uptake from plants being much greater than lead and arsenic etc. but as a soil maker lead is a great concern as well when mixing and handling dirt and amendments. Amendments of most concern would be rock phos and super phos but also crustaceans or oyster shell due to their ability to immobilize heavy metals.



"Cadmium availability is influenced by several soil properties. Plants uptake cadmium through their roots, but uptake is lowest when soil pH is higher (6.2); organic carbon (organic matter) levels are higher and levels of soil calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are adequate"

"Cadmium is concentrated in particular parts of plants. As a general rule, leaves contain the most Cd, followed by storage roots and tubers, and then seeds or grain and fleshy fruits. Fleshy leaf crops (lettuce, spinach) tend to have higher levels than pumpkin, cucumber etc. Storage root crops (garlic, parsnip, carrot, beetroot, onion, potato) can also all contain significant levels of cadmium, depending on levels present in the soil."

"Superphosphate (super) is manufactured by attacking a rock phosphate rock source material with sulphuric acid."

"Earlier superphosphate was made from rock phosphate from Nauru which had high levels of C0d0 contamination i.e. 600mgCd/kg P in the superphosphate."

Guanos are generally low in cadmium but all manures contain at least trace amounts in varying quantities.


http://soiltech.co.nz/articles/Cadmium_Article_April_2013.pdf


http://www.cadmium.org/environment/level-of-cadmium-in-the-environment


" It appears that cadmium is the heavy metal of greatest concern in fertilizer. In a Washington State Department of Agriculture study that considered the plant uptake of arsenic, lead, and cadmium (coincidently, the only three metals that California regulates), cadmium was found to be of the greatest concern because cadmium builds up in the soil and plants can take it up. Some plants, such as lettuce, were found to contain more cadmium in the plant when more was available in the soil. In one study area, there was a clear linear relationship between cadmium in soil and cadmium in plants. Arsenic and lead were not taken up by plants in the same way as cadmium. "

Cadmium




Cadmium accumulation in crops
 
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Homesteader

Homesteader

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A really interesting presentation from Dr Andrew Margenot mostly concerning Pb as it is of much concern due to leaded gasoline which has dusted more urban areas and caused higher amounts of lead levels in soil nationwide.

Interestingly plant uptake is not as dangerous as direct exposure (83% of exposure is from small grain dust and only 3% from indirect exposure). Wear a mask when mixing amendments and soil. Root crops and low to the ground greens have more heavy metals than fruits due to their contact with soil. High levels of lead in water didn't seem to effect levels in the crops.

Compost can help decrease availability and stop plants from taking up as much lead ( 40 min mark.)



290px-Symptoms_of_lead_poisoning_%28raster%29.png

Lead poisoning and health

Lead (Pb) Toxicity: What Are the Physiologic Effects of Lead Exposure? | ATSDR - Environmental Medicine & Environmental Health Education - CSEM
 
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oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

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got to agree with the rock dust,i noticed myself last time i used the stuff was hard for me to breath that night,been using azomite every sense,truth be told ,we cant control any of this cause it was sure enough here and will be as long as we live,always make great sense to wear protection at any level while mixing everything,even dust from your compost pile will mess with the lungs
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

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Analysis of azomite shows trace amounts of cadmium but in the amounts people use, I question how realistic those numbers would be when people are using cups of the stuff in a single grow bag.

Cadmium in super rock phos would depend on the source. Some areas in Northern Africa are incredibly high but to know where your rock comes from seems like a difficult task.
 
Hempry

Hempry

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My Soil Prof. always said as soon as your pH drops to the 5s metals will start coming loose in your soil and lead to toxicity. This makes me wonder about peat based potting mixes that are only kept in the acceptable pH range by lime buffering it up out of the 5s. Almost every "what's this deficiency" post lately where promix or similar peat based potting mix is used looks like metal tox to me. I have bad luck with the stuff unless I mix it 50/50 with perlite; but, if water is stagnant in the least, leaves burn just like a pH drop metal tox. I'm guessing if it burned the leaves it's still in 'em.....no?
 
oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

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Analysis of azomite shows trace amounts of cadmium but in the amounts people use, I question how realistic those numbers would be when people are using cups of the stuff in a single grow bag.

Cadmium in super rock phos would depend on the source. Some areas in Northern Africa are incredibly high but to know where your rock comes from seems like a difficult task.
oh hell no,i use 2lbs in a raised bed 2ft by 12 ft,rock dust is way over rated and price is up there with the hipe,i amend with meals and throw a little azomite in every winter and im done,let that soil work with compost to feed me,lmao
 
oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

12,306
438
My Soil Prof. always said as soon as your pH drops to the 5s metals will start coming loose in your soil and lead to toxicity. This makes me wonder about peat based potting mixes that are only kept in the acceptable pH range by lime buffering it up out of the 5s. Almost every "what's this deficiency" post lately where promix or similar peat based potting mix is used looks like metal tox to me. I have bad luck with the stuff unless I mix it 50/50 with perlite; but, if water is stagnant in the least, leaves burn just like a pH drop metal tox. I'm guessing if it burned the leaves it's still in 'em.....no?
i use 1;1;1 method,1 5 gal bucket peat,1 compost,1 bucket half and half perlite and vermiculite,add half cup blood,1/2 bone meal,1/2 cup azomite,works real good ,still fluffy but not if you dig,then i top dress ewc,barly malt and steel oats in once a month with my magic plants in tent,i feed extreme blend with a 1/8 tsp of fulvic acid and that the whole grow,also forgot 1 tsp of humic acid with the once a month feed,thats it,compost is were it at for plants i believe
 
Friendlyguy

Friendlyguy

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Check out tennessee brown rp!

Analysis of azomite shows trace amounts of cadmium but in the amounts people use, I question how realistic those numbers would be when people are using cups of the stuff in a single grow bag.

Cadmium in super rock phos would depend on the source. Some areas in Northern Africa are incredibly high but to know where your rock comes from seems like a difficult task.
 
Homesteader

Homesteader

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Check out tennessee brown rp!

I think the Tennessee brown is soft rock unless I am mistaken, which is the leftovers after leaching from mining high grade ore used for super rock phos. It is my understanding that this would be the lowest levels of heavy metals of all rock phos but I wasn't able to find any analysis online.
 
Friendlyguy

Friendlyguy

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tweedy

tweedy

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Glad I am not one of the only ones to be concerned with heavy metals in amendments. I always look up anything I plan on putting in the soil on Oregon Department of Ag. They have a very strict program and seem to test regularly/put things on stop sale that are misadvertised or dangerous.

On a side note, time for a theory:

Cadmium stress/toxicity induces thiol production in plants (the skunk/rotten egg/garlic/whatever smell, etc). While no one has ever tested for thiol production in cannabis I propose that the reason we smell skunk is a response to cadmium levels in the soil.

On that note, I don't think "roadkill skunk" is really a thing, I think there were just certain plants that had a strong propensity to produce thiols in response to cadmium rich diets. If you were growing with shitty fertilizers or on land with high cadmium levels you would certainly see a difference in the flower.

Thoughts?
 
Friendlyguy

Friendlyguy

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Thought sulfur does that? I think coot was saying that in an interview, someone posted it on here...
Glad I am not one of the only ones to be concerned with heavy metals in amendments. I always look up anything I plan on putting in the soil on Oregon Department of Ag. They have a very strict program and seem to test regularly/put things on stop sale that are misadvertised or dangerous.

On a side note, time for a theory:

Cadmium stress/toxicity induces thiol production in plants (the skunk/rotten egg/garlic/whatever smell, etc). While no one has ever tested for thiol production in cannabis I propose that the reason we smell skunk is a response to cadmium levels in the soil.

On that note, I don't think "roadkill skunk" is really a thing, I think there were just certain plants that had a strong propensity to produce thiols in response to cadmium rich diets. If you were growing with shitty fertilizers or on land with high cadmium levels you would certainly see a difference in the flower.

Thoughts?
 
Friendlyguy

Friendlyguy

244
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Im sure when people say they have an N def, i suspect it could be heavy metal tox. It blocks the S N tansduction pathways. It explains in detail in the link i posted..its taking it up like its sulfur maybe too...humans absorb lead and store it in the body like calcium...calcium/lead absorbtion in us in a way is similar to S/cd absorbtion in plants...lol...2funny
 
RippedTorn

RippedTorn

482
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On a side note, time for a theory:

Cadmium stress/toxicity induces thiol production in plants (the skunk/rotten egg/garlic/whatever smell, etc). While no one has ever tested for thiol production in cannabis I propose that the reason we smell skunk is a response to cadmium levels in the soil.

On that note, I don't think "roadkill skunk" is really a thing, I think there were just certain plants that had a strong propensity to produce thiols in response to cadmium rich diets. If you were growing with shitty fertilizers or on land with high cadmium levels you would certainly see a difference in the flower.

Thoughts?

Had a huge reply, but people don't like theory or fact on these forums unless they can fanboys the messenger on Instagram, so I cut it down. Had a hyped cut once that wasn't cutting it for me.. Boring bland sweet cookie bs. Long story short it got stowed/cured in a storage shed with a bunch of metal pegs in the jar (from nearby adjustable shelves). When I came back to the storage unit a couple weeks later, thought I would be kicked out for sure.. Pure skunk... Not another terp but skunk.

I know the metal had something to do with it, so started experimenting in my limited space. I've got that cut to smell like orange air compressor rustwater and hot 220v plugs. Nice, but not skunk. Maybe those pegs were cadmium plated?

The difficulty for Cannabis growers is they want to be a specialist without acknowledging what makes Cannabis special: Its a "bacteria" plant. With garlic you boost N and S. With tomatoes you raise macros to insane levels to increase flavor. With aromatic oil crops you might use heat stress to increase oil.. But are those "bacteria" crops?

A piney crop harvested from a pine forest got its influences from gases created by bacteria and from pine exudates, more specifically the bacteria strains they attract. I doubt pine is reaching out and collecting an unbalanced mineral diet to create pine smells.. Otherwise all Pines would smell the same. They are working with what they got. My theory is the elemental/mineral content is like the oven or plate which enzymatic action takes place in/on.

To me that's why hydro sucks, its been de-funked, de-natured, de-spiritualized by sterilization. You won't smell any thioalcohols because everything is washed away.. Bacteria poop = flavor. Enzymatic action = smell. So bacterial strain, bacterial food source, and bacterial environment are the three factors of the pot I grow.. Not sure about everyone else.. Most everyone else's weed taste fake as shit. Or like mine: bacterial, or sour, or fermented, or some other form of bacteria poop.. Never had a fruit strain that didn't smell half digested. Thats what attracted me to pot as a kid. The "good versions of the world's most notorious smells, this stuff must be from heaven! "

Next time you crave sweets, remember, it's your stomach bacteria craving sweets, not you ;)
 
Ignignokt

Ignignokt

350
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I recall getting "skunk weed" in the early 80's from clandestine grows, probably in native soil in North San Diego county. Western native soils that don't percolate well always accumulate salts and other nasties. Anymore, even where relatively good soil exists, folks plant in raised beds or huge fabric pots. You don't see that many successful grows in native soil that hasn't been amended substantially. Back then, you chose as carefully as you know how and took what you got. And hoped for rain.

Plants are capable of a multitude of expression due to their incredibly deep genetic code for survival. Natural circumstance brings that quality out with the diversity of environmental factors.

And the more we look at human bodies and their relationship to bacteria - perhaps this isn't so hard to imagine. It is well known that is how the roots work. They cannot extract the elements in the form they need on their own. Root biota additives are part of hydro and other practices however this would seem to lead to a monoculture of sorts. The current estimate of bacteria species is about 1 trillion with 99.9% yet to be discovered. As we get more eyes on cannabis in the scientific community - if they could just step away from the THC focus for awhile and hear some of the observations of farmers, perhaps answers we may get.
 
oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

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438
I know this post is old but wow come you add blood and bone meal? Its slaughterhouse waste. If your trying to grow organic and healthy why adding dried blood scraped off a slaughterhouse floor?

Fish bone meal better than bone meal.
Alfalfa meal, worm castings, and or fish meal has more than enough nitrogen in it, you could cut blood meal out of the equation.

As for azomite.
"This is good stuff and is just a "brand" name rock dust that has all the elements from A-Z hence Azomite.... thing is, that also includes heavy metals. While I'd use this in the veggie garden, many will avoid this in the medicine garden."


Why bother growing organic and healthy if you gonna rock heavy metals and slaughterhouse waste. It makes zero sense. Theres alternatives. Good on you for getting started in the right direction tho
i came from dirt ,i live from dirt,all you eat comes from dirt,same as a animal,im not on the band wagon of hugging trees and poor little mister cow or pig,just down to earth kind fellow that dont get mixed up with society and its bull shit of studies and then later we made a mistake shit,this forum is for opinions ,when folk write stuff it is there opinion and just theres,you spoke yours,i aint hating on you,from decades of experience ive learned to sheer away from all the gadgets and sstuff,blood and bone has been around since the beginning of time,most soil you walk on has the blood of a distant relative and the grass is still green,before the NPK labeling this is what we used and thats my old school methods,im 59 and not dead yet,society has problems with seeing from both sides of the glass,i can see both sides and threw it,life made me that way,heavy metals in my soil,crap i worry more about driving down the road,on a fixed budget one day you will find that you use what works instead of some study folks did just for a job and funding to stay working,i completly disagree with you and have to say im glad you feel the way you do about your body,hold true to it and live to 110,me i dont sweat that stuff,i knew at age 14 when i was on my own i would die,it really is the only thing humans kinda have say in how and when ,but closing think of your body as the soil it buffers and takes only what it wants and all the boasters in the world wont change that,im not organic or no till im a gardener that feed 7 grown folks from what was provided to me from a higher source,last i knew blood and bone and azomite rather natural or mined is organic though,ive seen you in the organic section preaching the same crap and hope you have followers that buy it all ,but to each there own ,if we were all the same it would be a very boring world,if the science was all that how come the very best medicine this earth has ,wild lettuce ,cant be explained ,reason is it not meant to be as are a whole lots of things ,most things are for use not study because thats what it is study with no end.
closing ,if you change one persons heart in this screwed up world of make believe,consider yourself lucky and done the job your are here for and that is sharing and giving reproducing from there you have me stuck in what works best,dont sweat life man enjoy it
 

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