Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) has been identified as a potential contaminant in agricultural and environmental soils. Ionic condition in the soils is an important factor to influence Cd availability. In this study, the effect of sulfate or nitrate application on Cd sorption in acidic and calcareous soils was investigated. The Cd, sulfate $(SO_4)$, and nitrate $(NO_3)$ sources were solutions of $CdCl_2$, $K_2SO_4$, and $KNO_3$, respectively. The soil-solution system pH was affected by the application of sulfate or nitrate in both acidic and calcareous soil system, but there was not clear pH difference between pre- and simultaneous applications of sulfate or nitrate (PAS/PAN or SAS/SAN). Solution ionic strength (I) values were similar between the acid and calcareous soil systems after applying the Cd even though it was significantly different in the untreated control soils. However after applying the sulfate or nitrate, the I values increased and were always higher with SAS/SAN treatments. Solution Cd concentration also increased with the application of sulfate or nitrate. However, the Cd concentration in soil solution controlled by Cd sorption in the systems was different between PAS/PAN and SAS/SAN treatments only in the calcareous soil system, but not in the acidic soil system. The difference in Cd concentration between SAS/SAN and PAS/PAN in the calcareous systems may be caused by system pH, ionic strength, complexation, and predominately, competition of the $Cd^{2-}$ with the index $K^+$ ion. Potassium ion-Cd competition in the acidic soil system may be minimized because of the abundance of hydrogen ions.