Effects of phosphorus fertilization on the availability and uptake of uranium and nutrients by plants grown on soil derived from uranium mining debris.
Subterranean clover and barley were grown on a soil derived from uranium mining debris and fertilized with phosphate as a U immobilizing additive for in situ remediation. We investigated the beneficial effect of P fertilization in the range 0-500 mg P kg(-1) soil in terms of U extractability, plant biomass production and U uptake. Increasing P in the mining debris caused a significant decrease of the water-soluble U and NH(4)-Ac extractable U at pH 7 and 5. For both plant species, P fertilization considerably increased root and shoot dry matter up to a maximum observed for soil receiving 100 mg P kg(-1) while the soil-to-plant transfer of U was regularly decreased by increasing P content in soil. These observations show that P fertilization represents an in situ practical option to facilitate the revegetation of U-mining heaps and to reduce the risks of biota exposure to U contamination.
Rufyikiri
Gervais
G
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK*CEN, Foundation of Public Utility), Radiation Protection Research Department, Radioecology Section, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
Wannijn
Jean
J
Wang
Lian
L
Thiry
Yves
Y
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008906:Mining; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D063245:Plant Development; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D005308:Fertilizers; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D010758:Phosphorus; D014501:Uranium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium