Removing soil surface is an effective method to reduce radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) in the contaminated agricultural land but this can result in the loss of soil fertility. Our experimental paddy field in Kawamata-town, Fukushima had the surface soil removed and replaced by sandy soil. The cattle manure compost was used to improve soil fertility. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of cattle manure compost application at rates of 0 (control), 10, 20 and 40 t ha^-1 on rice yields and on ¹³⁷Cs transfer to stems, leaves and panicles of rice in 2015. Results showed that rice yields were increased with rates of cattle manure compost. Application of cattle manure compost caused the increase of exchangeable potassium (K) in the soil, resulting in reduction of ¹³⁷Cs in rice parts. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration was higher in stems than in leaves and was not detected in panicles.

   The ¹³⁷Cs concentration in the aboveground parts of rice was decreased to the lowest (TF = 0.009) in soil that received 20 t ha^-1of cattle manure compost, which was 2.4 times lower than that in the control. The transfer factor of ¹³⁷Cs (TF) in aboveground parts of rice was negatively correlated with exchangeable K in the soil. The ratio of ¹³⁷Cs/ K was higher in stems than in leaves and that was related to the concentration of exchangeable Ca, and Mg in the soil. The results indicated that exchangeable K, Ca and Mg derived from cattle manure compost affected the uptake and distribution of ¹³⁷Cs in rice plants.