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Short‐term and long‐term effects of ploughing on the vertical distribution of radiocaesium in two Bavarian soils
Author(s) -
Schimmack W.,
Bunzl K.,
Flessa H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1994.tb00480.x
Subject(s) - plough , transect , deposition (geology) , soil water , environmental science , soil science , spatial distribution , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , geomorphology , agronomy , geotechnical engineering , oceanography , remote sensing , sediment , biology
. The effect of ploughing on the vertical and horizontal distribution of 137 Cs was investigated at two fields in Bavaria from 1987 to 1991. Soil samples from four layers in eight plots along a transect were taken in each field after each ploughing and harrowing. Total activities and activity concentrations were evaluated separately for 137 Cs derived from Chernobyl and from global fallout of weapon testing. In 1987 137 Cs from global fallout was already well mixed in both fields because of the long residence time in the soil. 137 Cs derived from Chernobyl, however, was distributed rather inhomogeneously in vertical as well as in horizontal directions. The coefficient of variation of the vertical activity concentrations within the Ap horizon decreased continuously from the first to the fourth ploughing, in one field by a factor of five. The number of ploughings necessary to attain a uniform vertical distribution of Chernobyl‐derived caesium was three and four in the two fields. Along the transects inhomogeneities caused by the spatial variability of the deposition of radiocaesium during the Chernobyl fallout were not removed by ploughing.