Experimental Studies on the Movement of Uranium in the Soil to Vegetables

Abstract

Studies on the accumulation and distribution of uranium by some vegetables were made under pot cultivation using the sandy soil of high level uranium sampled at Muro village, Nara prefecture.
The following results were obtained;
1) The biological absorption ratios of uranium in cotyledon and upper leaves of radish were higher than the other parts. However, these were influenced by the contents of plant nutrient elements in the soil. The absorption of uranium by radish under the cultivation with deficient fertilizer was higher than that with three elements (N, P, K) fertilizer. The distribution of uranium in radish was nearly proportional to the ratio of ash weight. The distribution of uranium in pimiento and cucumber were also similar to that in radish.
2) The uranium contents in the leaves of radish increased slightly and those in the roots decreased as growth of the plant.
3) A positive correlation between the uranium contents in soil and those in the leaves of vegetables was observed under the soil of similar characteristics and different uranium levels.