Radionuclides (⁴⁰К, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr) in agroecosystems of the Central Chernozem region

Research was conducted in 2023–2024 on the defining areas of the Belgorod region. Our research technique is conventional within the agrochemical service. The goal of this project was to study the specific activity of ⁴⁰natural and artificial radionuclides in soils and plants of certain agroecosystems. Studies have shown that specific activity does not vary significantly between leached arable (539 Bq/kg), typical (544 Bq/kg) and ordinary (573 Bq/kg), while in residual carbonate chernozems the value of said measurement (207 Bq/kg) was 2.60–2.77 times lower. The average specific activity of ²²³Th in leached, typical and ordinary chernozems was 1.97–2.35 times higher than the other residual carbonat chernozems. The average specific activity of Ra in studied soils did not differ significantly, staying within 17.3–18.9 Bq/kg. In soils of the region’s western areas, specific activity of ¹⁷³Cs ranged from 5,9 to 19,6, southern – 16.3–87.2 Bq/kg, while eastern sections of the region varied from 15.3–87.2 Bq/kg. Specific activity of ⁹⁰Sr in western soils was below 3, whereas the south extended from 16.3 to 87.2 Bq/kg. An average of ⁴⁰K specific activity altered from 111 Bq/kg to 597 Bq/kg was recorded within studied crop production, while ²³²Th’s and ²²⁶Ra’s ranges did not exceed 6 and 8 Bq/kg respectively. ¹³⁶Cs’ specific activity was less than 3, while ⁹⁰Sr stayed at less than 2 Bq/kg, which is significantly lower than the established limit for said parameter.