Uptake of strontium-85 by alfalfa.
Experiments with alfalfa were carried out to study the possibility of changes with time in the availability of radiostrontium in soil. After the soil was treated once with Sr85, the first crop was harvested after 60 days of growth. Four subsequent crops, cut at successive 4-week intervals, were examined. The difference in uptake between the second and fifth crops was statistically significant, suggesting that some fixation of Sr85 may occur in the soil. The effects of various applications of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride on the uptake of Sr85 by alfalfa were also investigated. Of the experiments carried out, only the treatment with 1.0 meq of potassium per 100g of soil resulted in a statistically significant reduction in strontium uptake.
D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D011851:Radioactivity; D012987:Soil; D013324:Strontium; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes
D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D012987:Soil; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D013324:Strontium
ALFALFA/chemistry; RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT; STRONTIUM/radioactive