Relationships between properties of Hanford area soils and the availability of 134Cs and 85Sr for uptake by cheatgrass and tumbleweed

The relationships between plant root absorption mechanisms and basic soil parameters which effect the concentration of Sr and Cs, and analog ions in soil solution are reviewed. Based on these relationships, studies were undertaken to determine the relative availability of Cs and Sr for uptake by plants grown on Hanford area soils, and the feasibility of developing a predictive relationship between readily measurable soil parameters and plant availability of Cs and Sr. Concentration ratios were determined for cheatgrass and tumbleweed grown on Hanford area soils representing a range in properties (Burbank, Ritzville, Lickskillet, Rupert and Warden). Concentration ratios ranged from 0.0078 to 0.066 and 3.5 to 16 for 134Cs and 85Sr, respectively. Soils were analyzed for physical properties, mineralogy, extractable cations and extractable 134Cs and 85Sr. Simple correlation analyses showed Cs and Sr uptake in cheatgrass and Sr uptake by tumbleweed to be related to cation exchange capacity, and extractable Sr, Ba and Mg. However, in the case of Cs, this correlation may be coincidental since these divalent cations are not chemical analogs of Cs. Uptake of Cs by tumbleweed showed weak correlations with extractable and exchangeable K. Factor analysis and principle components analysis did not assist in further quantitation of the relationships between plant uptake and soil parameters