Uptake of 137Cs from coniferous forest soil by sheeps' fescue in pot experiment

The uptake of the post-Chernobyl 137Cs fallout from forest soils with low nutrients, high organic matter content and acidic pH was examined in pot experiments. Results of sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina) two harvests (after growing period of 13 weeks) showed a considerable variations in 137Cs uptake. Transfer factor (TF) for 137Cs based upon soil-to-plant relationships was calculated: Bqkg-1 plant DW / Bqkg-1 soil DW. A considerable fluctuations in the values were also observed. The ranges were: from 0.03 to 3.43 with a mean of 0.35±0.43 for the first cut and from 0.03 to 2.28 with a mean of 0.36±0.42 for the second cut. This variation in the 137Cs uptake by sheep's fescue grass might be due to the influence of high soil OM% and soil pH in conjunction with soil moisture. The effect of potassium (K+), stable caesium (Cs+), and ammonium (NH4+) that were added as chlorides on 137Cs uptake by sheep's fescue were also tested in a pot experiment under the same conditions of previous set-up. Results of three harvests demonstrated that K+ reduced the uptake of 137Cs. In contrast an addition of both Cs+ and NH4+ seams to enhance the uptake of 137Cs by sheep fescue. (author)