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The Effect of Gamma and Neutron Irradiation of Soil on the Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Rye
Author(s) -
Cummins D. G.,
McCreery R. A.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1964.03615995002800030026x
Subject(s) - loam , irradiation , nutrient , agronomy , limiting , yield (engineering) , chemistry , forage , moisture , soil water , crop , soil fertility , radiochemistry , environmental science , biology , materials science , soil science , physics , organic chemistry , nuclear physics , engineering , metallurgy , mechanical engineering
Cecil sandy loam and Lakeland sand with 6 fertility treatments, at field capacity and air dry, were subjected to 3 rates of mixed gamma and neutron radiation from an airshielded 10 megawatts thermal reactor. Rye was grown as a test crop on these soils in the greenhouse. Forage yield and uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na by rye were used to evaluate irradiation effects. Yields of rye on Cecil soil were increased as a result of irradiation when N was limiting, probably as a result of increased mineral N from dead organisms. The uptake of P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na was not affected by irradiation, except where influenced by an increased yield due to N. Soil moisture at irradiation time did not influence irradiation effects on rye yields.