Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Soil Science, Agriculture, CATIONIC INTERACTIONS, RADIOCESIUM, SPINACH (SPINACIA OLERACEA L CV SUBITO), WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM CV TONIC), 05 Environmental Sciences, 06 Biological Sciences, 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Agronomy & Agriculture, 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences, 31 Biological sciences, 41 Environmental sciences

Abstract:

Young spinach (Spinacia oleracea L., cv. Subito) and wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. Tonic) plants were hydroponically grown in eight different nutrient solutions containing 137Cs. Ca, Mg, K and NH4 concentrations were varied whilst anion concentrations were equal in all solutions. The large differences in potassium content between spinach and wheat were not reflected in similar differences in 137Cs content at any nutritive treatment. Both crops were also grown in a potted podzolic soil contaminated with radiocaesium. This experiment was conducted in a phytotron at two climatic conditions ('summer' and 'winter') which differed in day length and light intensity. Wheat plants had higher 137Cs levels than spinach at both conditions. The 137Cs levels furthermore decreased during development. The 137Cs plant/soil solution concentration ratio was lower at the 'summer' than at the 'winter' conditions. © 1993 Kluwer Academic Publishers.