Mulching as a countermeasure for crop contamination within the 30 km zone of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

Journal Article · Mon Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es980569o· OSTI ID:335344

Yera, T S; Vallejo, R; Tent, J; Rauret, G ^[1]; Omelyanenko, N; Ivanov, Y ^[2]

---

1. Univ. de Barcelona (Spain)
2. Ukrainian Inst. of Agricultural Radiology, Kiev (Ukraine)

The effect of mulch soil cover on crop contamination by {sup 137}Cs was studied within the 30 km zone of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Experiments were performed with oats (Avena sativa) over a three year period. In 1992 soil surface was covered by a plastic net. In 1993 two straw mulch treatments were applied at a dose rate of 200 g m{sup {minus}2} using {sup 137}Cs contaminated and clean straw, respectively. A similar mulch treatment was applied in 1994, and two mulch doses of clean straw were tested. Protection of the soil with a plastic net significantly increased crop yield and reduced crop contamination. When clean straw was used as a mulch layer, a significant decrease of about 30--40% in {sup 137}Cs activity concentration was observed. Mulching with {sup 137}Cs contaminated straw did not reduce crop contamination, probably due to an increase in soil available {sup 137}Cs released from the contaminated mulch. Mulching has been shown to be an effective treatment both for reducing {sup 137}Cs plant contamination and improving crop yield. Therefore, it can be considered as a potential countermeasure in a post-accident situation.

• OSTI ID: 335344
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 33; ISSN 0013-936X; ISSN ESTHAG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
CESIUM 137
CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FALLOUT
OATS
RADIATION MONITORING
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
STRAW