Relation between Tilling Depth of Moldboard Plow and Burial Depth of Surface Soil upon Decontamination of Radioactive Material

Abstract

With the aim of burying surface field soil that may include radioactive materials, the burial of the top 3 cm surface layer soil by 22-inch and 14-inch moldboard plows was investigated in andosol and gray lowland soil upland fields. The following results were obtained. (1) The average buried depth of surface layer soil was proportional to the plowing depth. (2) The estimated average buried depth of surface layer soil after the plowed soil had settled to its pre-plowed level was about two-thirds of the plowing depth. (3) The 10th percentile of the above-mentioned estimated average buried depth of surface layer soil was about a half of the plowing depth.