Effects of ammonium-ferric(III)-hexacyano-ferrate(II) and faeces addition on yield and soil-plant transfer of radiocaesium to rye-grass

AFCF [ammonium-ferric (III)-hexacyano-ferrate (II)] was shown to be an effective countermeasure against radiocaesium uptake by domestic animals. Following the addition of AFCF and faeces to a sandy farm soil, we evaluate here radiocaesium transfer to rye-grass as well as grass yield in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. Sheep faeces and/or soil were artificially contaminated with 137Cs or 134Cs, respectively. Radiocaesium from both soil and faeces was equally absorbed by rye-grass. AFCF, at concentrations of 1 gm-2 soil, was not deleterious for plant growth. AFCF is, furthermore, an effective countermeasure for radiocaesium soil-plant transfer. The AFCF applications at about 1 g AFCF m-2 on the sandy soil resulted in a fourfold reduction of the radiocaesium transfer to rye-grass. (Author)