Use of the 137Cs technique in soil-erosion investigations: A case study in the Zitouna basin in the north of Morocco

Caesium-137 is a useful radionuclide for obtaining estimates of soil loss caused by erosion over a relatively long period of time (about 35 years). This artificial radionuclide was derived from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons and was strongly adsorbed by fine soil particles. The measurement of the 137Cs inventory (in Bq·m-2) allows rates of soil erosion and deposition to be determined. The 137Cs technique has been successfully applied in a wide range of environments and locations, particularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. In this study, the technique was applied in Morocco to fields in the Zitouna basin located in the vicinity of El Hoceima. The results confirmed the potential for using the 137Cs technique in Morocco, but also identified some limitations and constraints due to local conditions. (author)