Adsorption and fixation of radiocesium compared to properties, landuse and sampling location of contrasting soils from Taiwan
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Adsorption and desorption of radiocesium has been measured on 57 soils from different climates, landuses and altitudes in Taiwan, and compared to soil properties. A large range in radiocesium adsorption (assessed by the distribution coefficient, Kd) was found. Largest values of Kd were observed for arable soils. These were sampled near sea-level, tended to have neutral to alkaline pH, and to be depleted in water-extractable potassium and organic matter. Kd values of soil from undisturbed and secondary forests fell in a smaller range, and were on average smaller than those of arable soils, and decreased with increasing altitude. Kd was not significantly related to clay content. A fraction of adsorbed radiocesium was not readily desorbed in a solution containing stable cesium. This fixed fraction, denoted f fixed , tended to increase with increasing Kd, and was greater in arable soils. The f fixed tended to decrease with increasing altitude for soils from undisturbed forests. Fixation increased with pH and was inversely related to carbon, extractable potassium and clay contents. We conclude that content of clay-sized fraction is a poor predictor of radiocesium dynamics, because small amounts of mineral clay are sufficient to adsorb trace amounts of radiocesium. Mineral weathering, controlled by landuse and climate, determines both affinity and fixation of radiocesium.
Authors: Staunton Siobhan, Chih-Yu Chiu
Institutions: Université de Montpellier, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Ecologie fonctionnelle & biogéochimie des sols & des agro-systèmes, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,800
OpenAlex ID: W4410876149