Cesium-137 Root Uptake by Oat and Lettuce Test Crops from Radioactively Contaminated Chernozem under Model Experiment Conditions

Abstract

The features of cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) root uptake by spring oat (Avena sativa L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants have been studied in a model experiment with simulation of radionuclide fallout into undisturbed monoliths of arable chernozems from the Plavsk radioactive spot. An integrated approach using digital autoradiography and γ-spectrometry methods has revealed a uniform pattern of vertical and lateral ¹³⁷Cs distribution in the soil profile and low bioavailability of the radionuclide or root uptake by plants. Certain biological features of the test crops with respect to root uptake of ¹³⁷Cs have been demonstrated: limited translocation of the element into shoots via its relative accumulation in roots for oats and limitation of general root uptake of ¹³⁷Cs into plants, given its uniform distribution between roots and shoots for lettuce.