HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sheppard, M. I. Articles by Thibault, D. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sheppard, M. I. Articles by Thibault, D. H. Agricola Articles by Sheppard, M. I. Articles by Thibault, D. H.

Uptake by Plants and Migration of Uranium and Chromium in Field Lysimeters¹

ABSTRACT

Plant growth, plant uptake, and the redistribution in soil of U and Cr were studied in field lysimeters. The objective of the experiment was to characterize the plant uptake and migration in the soil of U and Cr when placed at different depths in the unsaturated soil zone within the influence of a water table. Lysimeters with and without vegetation were studied and two soils, and two plant species were investigated.

Total uptake of Cr by the plants was directly proportional to Cr concentration in the soil, over eight orders of magnitude. Thus, independent of the amount of Cr applied, the plant took up a similar fraction, about 0.007. Chromium placement depth in the soil did not influence Cr uptake by the plants although the Cr was relatively immobile in both soils.

Plant uptake of U was independent of plant species and U placement depth for loam soil, but highly dependent on placement depth in sandy soil. In the latter, much more U was taken up by the plants when it ws placed near the soil surface, implying that uptake was dependent upon root activity. Migration of U from the contaminant band was substantial only in the sandy soil.

Key Words: water table • waste disposal • heavy metals • radiotracers

¹ Paper no. 8099 from the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited-Research Company.

² Soil Scientist, Soil Scientist, and Technologist, respectively, Environ. Res. Branch, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada R0E 1L0.

Received for publication September 26, 1983.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Plant availability of uranium in contaminated soil from Crucea Mine (Romania) Environmental Geosciences, September 1, 2003; 10(3): 123 - 135.