Cd and Pb content in soil from Upper Silesia (Poland) and in maize crop were detd. and correlated with soil pH and granulometric compn. as well as with contents of assimilating P, K, Mg, Cu, Zn and mineral N in the soil. Both Cd and Pb contents in maize decreased with increasing pH, fine soil fraction, as well as P, Mg and Zn contents and with decreasing mineral N contents in the soil.