Radiological efficiency of agricultural countermeasures applied in radiocontaminated fields

Abstract

Implementation of agricultural countermeasures is one of the principal methods that allow to decrease irradiation doses. Summarizing available information about countermeasures and taking into account the experience in the elimination of the nuclear accident consequences, it is demonstrated that the most widespread countermeasures after the Chernobyl accident were soil ameliorations. These methods are simple, inexpensive and effective in reducing radionuclide transfer from the soil to agricultural crops. Among the above mentioned methods, agrotechnical countermeasures were the most applicable, decreasing the contamination of plant products up to 20 times. Radical and surface improvements of natural and semi‐natural meadows were carried out on a large scale on contaminated lands. The biggest decrease of vegetation contamination was observed after the radical improvement of meadows, with and without drainage, 43 and 16 times, respectively. Other effective measures are agrochemical methods. In fact the application of various fertilizers permitted to decrease the radioactive contamination of production averagely 2–3 times. Potassium fertilizers were the most effective for the decrease of ¹³⁷Cs transfer to harvested crops. Application of sorbing minerals decreased ¹³⁷Cs transfer to crops from a peaty soil up to 11 times, and from a sod‐podzolic soil up to 3 times. Moreover, these countermeasures increased the yield and improved the quality of products.

Santrauka

Agrokultûriniø atsakomøjø priemoniø ágyvendinimas yra vienas iš pagrindiniø metodø, leidžianèiø sumažinti spinduliavimo dozes. Apibendrinus informacijà apie atsakomàsias priemones ir ávertinus turimà branduoliniø nelaimiø padariniø šalinimo patirtá, parodoma, kad po Èernobylio avarijos plaèiausiai taikomos atsakomosios priemonës buvo dirvožemio gerinimas. Šie metodai, padedantys sumažinti radionuklidø pernašà iš dirvožemio á pasëlius, yra paprasti, nebrangûs ir efektyvûs. Agrotech‐ninës atsakomosios priemonës buvo tinkamiausios siekiant sumažinti augalinës produkcijos užterštumà iki 20 kartø. Natûraliø ir pusiau natûraliø pievø šakniniø ir paviršiniø daliø pagerinimas buvo atliekamas plaèiu mastu užterštose dirvose. Didžiausias augalijos užterštumo sumažëjimas buvo nustatytas pagerinus pievà su ir be drenažo (atitinkamai 43 ir 16 kartø). Kitos efektyvios priemonës yra agrocheminiai metodai. Naudojant ávairias tràšas galima sumažinti produkcijos užterštumà radioaktyviosiomis medžiagomis vidutiniškai 2–3 kartus. Kalio tràšos buvo efektyviausios mažinant ¹³⁷C pernašà á javø derliø. Naudojant sorbcinius mineralus ¹³⁷C pernaša á javus iš durpingos dirvos sumažëjo 11 kartø, o iš velëninio dirvožemio ‐ iki 3 kartø. Be to, šios atsakomosios priemonës padidino derliø ir pagerino produktø kokybæ.

Keywords:

• radioactive contamination
• ¹³⁷Cs
• ⁹⁰Sr
• agricultural crops
• countermeasures
• efficiency

Reikšminiai žodžiai:

• radioaktyvusis užterštumas
• ¹³⁷C
• ⁹⁰Sr
• pasëliai
• atsakomosios priemonës
• efektyvumas

Keywords: