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Profile of Natural Radioactivity in Hartsells Loam
Author(s) -
Burton J. D.,
Guenther W. B.,
Owen H. M.
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/sssaj1964.03615995002800040016x
Subject(s) - loam , silt , potassium , acre , zoology , environmental science , plateau (mathematics) , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , mineralogy , geology , soil water , chemistry , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , biology , geomorphology , agroforestry , mathematical analysis , organic chemistry
During summer of 1961 bulk samples at 4‐inch to 30 inches depth increments were collected at 15 random locations within an apparently uniform single acre of forest soil, Hartsells loam, under oak‐hickory sawtimber on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Net radioactivity, total potassium content, and mechanical fractions were determined in the laboratory. After samples were stored in sealed containers for 7 days, activity was counted again and found to be increased. Linear regressions of initial activity on silt‐plus‐clay and on K, K on silt‐plus‐clay, and 7‐day activity on clay, on K, and on 1‐day activity were highly significant. Distributions of K, and of initial activity in the soil profile were more closely related to the profile of total fines than to the clay curve. Initial activity was believed to be due largely to K 40 , but activity gain during storage was probably due to daughters of U 238 .