Cesium transfer on permanent pastures from soil to vegetation determined at Bremen, FRG

The evaluation of Cs transfer from soil to permanent pasture vegetation on a podzolic sandy geest soil compared to marshy sites was the aim of the present investigation. In detail were pointed out: The edaphic character of the sampling site accounting for parameters influencing Cs - plant uptake as the agricultural characterization of regional soil exploitation. Concentration ratios (CR) were determined with Cs-137 from weapon fallout, pot experiments with 7 kg plots under greenhouse conditions with broad variation of experimental set ups for method comparison using Cs-134 and with 50 kg soil blocks (large container experiments) under outdoor conditions for 2 vegetation periods. The methods used resulted in comparable CR-data, exceeding the estimated standard value of 0,05. Podzolic soil showed higher uptake compared to marsh soil (0,22 > 0,09). The Cs- transfer showed a broad local and time depending variability also with equal experimental conditions which may exceed definitively intended set up differences. As to be not significantly different can be judged: - marshy sites compared with each other - on the whole the 3 main experimental methods - soil pH ranging from 4,5 - 6,1, organic carbon content, Cs-concentration in microquantities, exchangeable potassium and total Ca. With increasing age of soil-Cs, the transfer in general was depressed. (orig.)