Radionuclide Concentration and the Influence of Plant Biological Characteristics on the Transfer from Soil to Plants

Abstract

Strontium-90 from radioactive strontium-contaminated leaves does not move into plant organs and therefore does not accumulate in the crop. It is possible that the radionuclide is washed away from the contaminated leaves with atmospheric precipitation and, after entering the soil, is absorbed by the plant root system and ends up in the crop.

After entering the soil, strontium-90 penetrates the plant body through the roots throughout the entire vegetation period and gradually accumulates in the crop.

The accumulation of radiostrontium in plant crops depends on its content in the soil. This dependence is directly proportional. For example, it has been established that with a 10-fold increase in the concentration of radiostrontium in the soil, its accumulation in the stalks and grains of wheat crops increases approximately 10 times, a similar picture is given by peas.