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Americium-241 Uptake by Bahiagrass as Influenced by Soil Type, Lime, and Organic Matter¹

ABSTRACT

Availability of ²⁴¹Am to bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), a major forage crop in the southeastern U.S., was studied under greenhouse conditions using two soil types, two rates of lime, and four rates of organic matter. The plants were grown in pots until three clippings were obtained.

Americium-241 concentrations in plant tissues from the unlimed Dothan (24% clay) soil were, on the average, approximately twice as high as those from unlimed Troup (10% clay) soil. Lime significantly reduced ²⁴¹Am uptake from both soils. The americium concentration ratios (americium concentration in dry plant tissue/average americium concentration in dry soil) for limed treatments were, in general, one order of magnitude lower than those for unlimed treatments. Organic matter, added to the soils as bermuda grass hay, somewhat reduced ²⁴¹Am uptake, especially when added at high rates in unlimed soils.

The effect of lime on uptake could be attributed to immobilization of americium ions external to the roots as a result of decreased solubility of this radionuclide and/or antagonistic effect of increased calcium ion concentration in the soil solution on americium ions. The effect of organic matter on uptake could be attributed to its fixing capacity for metals.

Key Words: nuclear fuel cycle • transuranic elements • nuclear energy • radionuclide • concentration ratio

¹ Contribution of the Savannah River Ecology Lab., Inst. of Ecology, Univ. of Georgia. This research was supported by Contract EY-76-C-09-0819 between the Univ. of Georgia and the U.S. Dep. of Energy.

² Research technician in Soil Science, and Adjunct Associate Professor of Agronomy and Associate Research Ecologist, respectively, Savannah River Ecology Lab., P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29801.

Received for publication April 24, 1978.