Award details

Cycling of radionuclides in upland vegetation.

Reference	BBS/E/G/00003563
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Nigel Sackville-Hamilton
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr D R Jones
Institution	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res
Department	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	54,634
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1999
Duration	24 months

Abstract

This project investigates the cycling of radiocaesium in upland environments. Tracer experiments are used to determine the role of translocation processes in the cycling and retention of Cs in the biomass of plants representative of upland pastures affected by Chernobyl fallout. Loss processes and the transfer of Cs between plant and soil pools and factors such as K status, plant growth-form and leaching rainfall affecting these processes are being investigated. The information gained will improve the understanding of temporal and spatial variation in activity levels of Cs in upland vegetation and could be used to investigate the cycling of other radionuclides or pollutants. Data on temporal patterns of Cs cycling are invaluable in investigations of soil-applied countermeasures against plant uptake of Cs in a MAFF contract to IGER and W.S. Atkins Environment Ltd and in collaboration with Uppsala University, Sweden and IPNE, Romania. The project contributes to the ASD programme Agriculture in the Environment, contributing to quality of life through supporting the development of damage limitation procedures following environmental catastrophes.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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