title: Investigation of spatial distribution of radiocesium in a paddy field as a potential sink.
abstract: Surface soils, under various land uses, were contaminated by radionuclides that were released by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Because paddy fields are one of the main land uses in Japan, we investigated the spatial distribution of radiocesium and the influence of irrigation water in a paddy field during cultivation. Soil core samples collected at a paddy field in Fukushima showed that plowing had disturbed the original depth distribution of radiocesium. The horizontal distribution of radiocesium did not show any evidence for significant influence of radiocesium from irrigation water, and its accumulation within the paddy field, since the original amount of radiocesium was much larger than was added into the paddy field by irrigation water. However, it is possible that rainfall significantly increases the loading of radiocesium.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainable Sciences and Development, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hokuto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwatani
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onda
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D007564:Japan; D011891:Rain; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014867:Water