Investigation of the unusual behavior of cesium-137 and other radionuclides in the Florida environment. Progress report, September 1, 1975--August 31, 1976. [Digitaria decumbens, Paspalum notatum]
The most significant development in the contract year was the documentation of the presence of endomycorrhizal, vesicular arbuscular (V-A) mycorrhizae in the pasture systems of south Florida that have the elevated levels of cesium-137 activity. In all samples the V-A hyphal network was well developed and growing throughout the particles of organic matter. The organic particles are held in a loose, aggregate structure by the hyphal network. In improved pastures of Digitaria decumbens (pangola) and Paspalum notatum (bahiagrass) the root infection ranged from 24 to 95 percent. The principle association was Gigaspora and Glomus sp. In the unimproved pastures of mostly Aristida stricta (wiregrass) and Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) the infection was 70 percent and only Acaulospora laevis was found. Experiments are in progress to show whether there are differences in cesium uptake between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal grass plants. The test grass is pangola. Greenhouse tests involve V-A mycorrhizal control using a fungicide, the infection of grass cuttings with mycorrhizal strains found in the test area. These pot experiments will serve as pilot programs for field experiments. The effects of ectomycorrhizal associations on uptake of cesium in pine seedlings is also being studied. Analysis of the dynamics of organic matter cycling in a mesic hardwood forest shows that the rates of organic matter flow are similar to tropical systems although the plant species are warm temperate. The increased tempo of organic turnover probably contributes to the observed higher-than-expected levels of cesium-137 activity in Florida biosystems.
- Research Organization:
- Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA). Inst. of Food and Agricultural Sciences
- OSTI ID:
- 7272808
- Report Number(s):
- ORO-4066-9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F US-PAS Florida, Paspalum notatum pasture
Investigation of the unusual behavior of cesium-137 and other radionuclides in the Florida environment. Progress report, September 1, 1976--November 31, 1977. [Pangolagrass, mycorrhizas]
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOMASS
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONIFERS
CONTAMINATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLORIDA
FORESTS
FUNGI
FUNGICIDES
GRASS
ISOTOPES
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PESTICIDES
PINES
PLANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
ROOTS
SEEDLINGS
SOUTHEAST REGION
TREES
UPTAKE
USA
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES