Soil-Water Distribution Coefficients and Plant Transfer Factors for super(134)Cs, super(85)Sr and super(65)Zn Under Field Conditions in Tropical Australia

Soil-to-plant transfer of cesium 134, strontium 85, and zinc 65 was measured from two tropical red earth soils to sorghum and mung crops in northern Australia. Cs adsorption showed no pH dependence, but distribution coefficient values for Tippera soil exceeded those for Blain soil at equilibrium pH, due to the greater clay content of the former. Distribution coefficients for Sr were 30-60 ml/g and those for Zn were 160-1630 ml/g for both soils at equilibrium pH. Soil-to-plant transfer factors for sorghum were 0.1-0.3, 0.4-0.8, and 18-26 g/g for Cs, Sr, and Zn, respectively. Transfer factors for Cs and Sr were not markedly different from those observed in temperature ecosystems, but Zn factors on tropical soils were greater than for soils in temperate climates.