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Time‐Dependent Distribution of Surface‐Applied Radionuclides and their Recovery in Maize during the Growing Season
Author(s) -
Centofanti T.,
Frossard E.,
Flühler H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2006.0056
Subject(s) - radionuclide , environmental science , distribution (mathematics) , growing season , zea mays , agronomy , hydrology (agriculture) , mathematics , biology , geology , physics , nuclear physics , geotechnical engineering , mathematical analysis
The spatial and temporal heterogeneity of field soils influences the fate and behavior of strongly sorbing pollutants and their entry into the food chain. We studied the redistribution of surface‐applied 54 Mn, 65 Zn, 57 Co, and 134 Cs in the soil profile and their recovery in the aerial parts of maize grown on an untilled agricultural soil during the growing season. Radionuclides were more concentrated in the preferential flow paths (PFP) than in the soil matrix and their concentration decreased with time. The recovery of 54 Mn in the aerial plant parts increased between pollen shed and maturity, while the recovery of 65 Zn and 57 Co did not show any significant difference, and the recovery of 134 Cs decreased with time. The amount and distribution of rainfall, and the chemical, physical, and microbiological soil characteristics are the major factors influencing the variation of radionuclide recovery with time.